TNAG-0611-FCO40-759-Presence-of-Warsaw-Pact-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 61

USSR Academy of Sciences

OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION

44 Vavilov Street,

Block 2

Moscow B-333

Академия наук СССР

ОКЕАНОГРАФИЧЕСКАЯ КОМИССИЯ

Sir George Deacon, C.B.E., F.R.S.

Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Wormly, Godalming, Surrey

U.K.

Москва В-333

Улица Вавилова 44, корп. 2

Dear Professor Deacon,

Oceanographers of the USSR Academy of Sciences acknowledge the great contribution you made into the successful development of international cooperation in oceanography over the pst years and are appealing to you for assistance in removing some regret- ful obstacles in the way of further improvement of good spirit

of international scientific coopeartion.

"

The practice of our research work in the Western Pacific and adjoining parts of the Indian Ocean shows that British autho- rities regularly refuse granting permissions to research vessels of the USSR Academy of Sciences for calling Hong Kong (Victoria), in spite of timely requests complying to the letter with all the requirements of the Foreign Office. Yet, the port in question is one of the most convenient for taking provisions and supplies

for all our research vessels which work in the Western Pacifio

or pass in transit to the Indian Ocean. This port is regularly used by Soviet merchant and fishing vessels seemingly without any difficulty, but not by research vessels. To quote just a few

examples:

I.

In 1971, the R/V "Dmitry Mendeleev" obtained an agreement from the established agent in Hong Kong to provide the requested food supplies. However, the British authorities did not give the requested permission.

2. In autumn, 1972, the British authorities refused permis- sion to call Hong Kong to the same research vessel for the pur- pose of repair work, notwithstanding the fact that the USSR Foreign Trade Agency "Sudoimport" had concluded a contract with the local firm for this repair work in Hong Kong.