CONFIDENTIAL
hipping agents were ordered to ensure that the crews of the ships undergoing repair should be kept down to the minimum required to handle them in typhoon conditions (ie about 50-70% of the full complement). These restrictions have all been reviewed following a Soviet complaint in London in August 1974 that they were excessive. The Hong Kong Government produced a well documented argument to show why they were very reluctant to consider any relaxation.
BRIEF
5 It is difficult to justify our restrictions on Soviet activities
[could not publicly ridicule]
in Hong Kong in any terms that the Russians would understand./
Explanations should not therefore be offered. If the subject is raised
by the Russians, the reply should be that this is a question for the
Hong Kong Government.. If the Russians press the matter, it would be
best simply to state that Hong Kong is self-evidently a special case
and not to be drawn into further comment.
FCO
May 1975.
M. GA
Mul
say
that there
10
evidence
нк
WENT ONErised of this
Discussed
mky
CONFIDENTIAL
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