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CONFIDENTIAL
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about the restrictions placed on crews of Soviet ships which
put into Hong Kong for repairs. In the late 1960s only 2
or 3 Moviet vessels per year used to visit Hong Konf for this
purpose.
Details The numbers increased sharply around 1970:
In
of the net registered tonnage of Soviet ships which have
visited Hong Kong in recent years are to be found in the
Answer which the Farliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Luard) gave to a Written
question by Mr Robert larry MP on 10 February 1977. The
relevant extract from Hansard is attached. ince 1971 Loviet
sailors staying in Hong Kong more than 14 days have been
required to fill in arrival cards and provide photographs.
1972 visits ashore were limited to groups of 5 for any one
6-hour period during the hours of daylightiin any one day, and
the Hong Kong Immigration De artment initiated spot checks to
ensure that this regulation was adhered to. A number of
breaches, some of them associated with KGB activities, were
discovered (these included in 1971 a disturbance caused by
Russian officers distributing anti-Mao leaflets on the Hong
Kong waterfront). In 1973 the Russians' shipping 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
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