A1
CONFIDENTIAL
them. It is not in our interests to irritate them un-
necessarily in a matter to which they attach
considerable importance.
Relaxation of the limits
imposed on the entry of Eastern Europeans to Hong Kong
would furthermore put an increased strain on the
ability of the Royal Hong Kong police to exercise adequate
surveillance upon the visitors.
3. Over the last few years, the Russians have attempted by
various means to establish a pattern of visits, in order
to break down the reluctance of the Hong Kong
authorities and of ourselves to see them gain a
foot-hold in the Colony. They have approached their
target from every conceivable angle: and amongst many
other ploys have been proposals for visits by research and
hydrographic vessels. These requests are usually
turned down on the grounds of administrative
Na Hack
inconvenience. Another line has been the question
of ship repairs. The number of Soviet ships
undergoing repairs in Hong Kong increased greatly
last year, and restrictions imposed in 1972 upon
the movement of crew members of these ships have been
flouted. In consequence the Hong Kong Government
(with our approval) instructed the Soviet ships'
Agents to arrange for the complements of ships undergoing
repair to be reduced. The Agents replied that Soviet
safety regulations did not allow the required
reductions. The Hong Kong authorities are still
pursuing this with the Agents locally.
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