TNAG-0511-FCO40-576-Visits-of-ships-from-Soviet-Union-to-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 74

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3. (contd)

While we would certainly take steps to keep out a genuine Soviet survey ship which was coming here for repair, we wonder whether this particular vessel has not been included on the M O D list on the strength of a "one-off" job in 1970. In that case the arguments for keeping her out of Hong Kong now would not be so strong. In view of her earlier visits, excluding the "M URITSKIY" might anyway be more tricky than it would otherwise have been. The standard procedure is of course that the Soviet authorities should give the F C O "advance notice of intention" of visits by ships on the list. Since we have not heard from

you, I assume that no such notice has been given in this

case.

3.

If we do decide to keep the m v "M URITSKIY" ou+ we shall probably need your help. Merely telling the Dockyard (who naturally want the work) that they cannot undertake the repair may well not be sufficient deterrent.

Your

EVEA

Rumistan

(T JB George)

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