TNAG-0611-FCO40-759-Presence-of-Warsaw-Pact-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 37

HKK 021/1

Dr R W J Keay

Executive Secretary The Royal Society

6 Carlton House Terrace

LONDON SW1Y 5AG

25 August 1977

u 14. Bainess EEST with folio (17)

ра

1. I am writing in reply to your letter of 3 August. As I explained on the telephone today I had not intended my use of the word "occasional" in my letter of 27 July to imply that the Hong Kong Government occasionally permit Russian ships to enter Hong Kong, (although, in fact, they sometimes do) but to suggest that Soviet research vessels only occasionally seek to enter that port.

2. Three Soviet Government research vessels applied for permission to visit Hong Kong in 1976. The Hong Kong Government allowed the "Professor Yushchenko" into Hong Kong in February 1976 when it was towing the "MV Glukhor" which had broken down with engine trouble but refused permission to the "Dimitriy Mendeleev" and the "Poseidon".

3. You might also like to know that in the years 1971-75, and in addition to those ships admitted for repair, at least four non- commercial Russian ships were permitted to enter Hong Kong, for one reason or another, including humanitarian.

JA B Stewart