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permit the presence here of a permanent representative of SUDOIMPORT while ships were being repaired. After consultation with Immigration Department, the Manager of the Dock Company handed a letter to the Russians, offering to provide facilities for them during their stay but emphasising that a guarantee regarding the granting of visas to stay in the Colony could not become an integral clause in the contract.
10.
The contract for the ships currently under repair had been signed but the contract for the third ship, which was due to arrive on 20th April had been delayed on the pretext that the charges were too high. The real reason is undoubtedly that the Russians wish to pursue their efforts to establish a permanent foothold in Hong Kong, as, just before leaving on 27th April, they expressed their intention of transferring one crew member from each of the two ships now under repair to the next ship when it arrives, and probably to other ships which are to follow. This may well be a scheme to create an overlap in scheduled arrival of the ships so that they can achieve the foothold they have been trying to obtain by one means or another. The transfer of crew members between ships in harbour is usually a mere fomality but a crew stop-over between the departure of one ship and the arrival of another requires formal application to the Director of Immigration.
Military Activity
11.
Troops of the Border Defence Regiment have continued to assist with agricultural work. Training on a limited scale has been observed.
12.
Several large parades followed by political meetings have been held in Shum Chun area. These events appear to have been organised by the Army and on two occasions some 1,000 soldiers were observed taking part in the parades.
The stimated Chinese military threat to the Colony remains unchanged.
13.
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