Sec. 26/5061/47
(4)
SAVINGRAM
To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
From the Governor, Hong Kong.
Date 30
March, 1950.
No..
361
CONFIDENTIAL
16-
Your savingram No. 243 of 11th March, 1950: Soviet wrecks.
The wrecks involved are those of the Simferopol, the Svirstroy and an unidentified wreck which the U.S.S.R. A11 Union Association Exporthleb claims to be the Soviet vessel Planton Kretchet. This third vessel was advertized three times during April 1949 and Exporthleb were the only claimants to it. The Director of Marine therefore accepted this claim, Exporthleb having stated that they were satisfied the vessel was in fact the Kretchet.
2.
In August, 1949 a letter was sent to Exporthleb giving the conditions under which the wrecks might be disposed of. Nothing further was heard; in October a reminder was sent to which no answer was received. Finally in February this year it was discovered that Exporthleb has sold all three vessels to Mr. L.A. Guimaraes, who has already re-sold them to Chinese purchasers. The Government's conditions, including the payment on deposit of 357,000 as surety for their dispersal by a certain date, still stand; and one of the Chinese owners has already paid $10,000 being part of his share amounting to 337,000. The owner of the Kretchet has not yet paid anything towards his stipulated surety of $20,000.
3.
All three wrecks are to be dispersed as scrap, and Mr. Guimaraes has refunded to Government outstanding salaries already paid to watchmen.
4.
necessary.
No further action therefore seems to be
Ac..
AC/LF
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