TNAG-0611-FCO40-759-Presence-of-Warsaw-Pact-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 7

cor Im 11 1

HKK oaili.

M. Thompson by Ester & pu

9%

Sx Goross

om.

VIIT OF NA CIJNKON DAVINC NODCOW 18-22 OCTOELR

Russian Visits to liong Kong(Lefensive)

1.

it is possible that the Russians will raise either or

both of the following issues:-

(a) the restrictions imposed by the Hong Kong authorities

on visits by aussien ships and their crews and;

(b) the hong authorities' recent refusal of permission for

the Sovier research vessel the "Dimitry Mendelcev", to enter

Hong Kong at the end of October.

2. As to (a) problems have arisen during the last few years,

though not recently, about the visit ofcviet chips to liong

Kong and the treatment of their crews.

There problems rust

be seen against the wider background of the long on

M

Govenment's overall policy, which fully upport, towards

visits of cviet citizens. This is to keep to an absolute

minimum the number of

periods, to enter on

ussions permitted, even for short

Ron Over the last few years the

•

Russians have attempted, by various means, to establish a

pattern of visits in order to break down the reluctance of

the Hong Kong authorities and curselves to let them in a

foothold in the territory. In some cases special factors led

the Hong Kong authorities to moke exceptions, but by and large

their practice regarding ussians is to keep them out of

liong kong as far as possible. (The only permanent ussian

presence in Hong Kong consists of two ussian farine uper-

intendents and their wives who arrived in ugust 1976.)

3. The reason for our firm line is the question:ble

CONFIDENTIAL

/motives