TNAG-0611-FCO40-759-Presence-of-Warsaw-Pact-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 12

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Written Answers

10 FEBRUARY 1977

Hong Kong

Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the grounds for refusing Warsaw Pact countries permission to establish consular representation in Hong Kong.

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Mr. Luard: No formal requests have been received in recent years from the Governments of the countries concerned. The unique circumstances of Hong Kong would not allow for consular representa- tion in all cases.

Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many citizens of Warsaw Pact countries have residence visas in Hong Kong: what is the length of these visas ; and what trades or professions these people are engaged in.

Mr. Luard: There are

two Soviet marine superintendents in Hong Kong on six-month employment visas which the Hong Kong Government are in the pro-

Cargo ships

Written Answers

814 cess of renewing for a further six months. The superintendents are accompanied by their wives, who hold six-month depen- dent status visas. There is a Czech national, the wite of a West German business man, who has been in Hong Kong since 1975 and was last year given a 12-month extension of stay. There is also a Polish nun entitled to stay in Hong King within the validity of her passport, which is due to expire in 1981.

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Mr. Purry usked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official · Report details of the tonnage of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' ships visiting Hong Kong in each of the past five years, stating for each year how much of this tonnage was cargo ships trading in Hong Kong, vessels using repair facilities, and passenger ships, respectively.

Mr. Luard: The net registered tonnage of Soviet ships visiting Hong Kong during the period in question was as follows:

DATE ..10/2↓72 COL. 8.13.18!

VOI

935

Passenger ships

Ships using repair facilities

Total

1972

224,253

6,495

29,973

260,721

1973

340,691

17,472

52,304

410,467,

1974

307,233

62,959

35,380

405,374

1975

389,255

68,027

47,900

505,182,

1976

630,822

23,838

34,504

689, 164,