CONFIDENTIAL
under repair are reduced in number and are subject to restricted movements in Hong Kong.
Recent Activities
2.
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5.
The Russians have recently applied for visas for two marine superintendents to enter Hong Kong to supervise repairs to ships at Hong Kong United Dockyard. In accordance with the policy to allow Sovbloc superintend- ents to reside in Hong Kong for a maximum period of one year, if there is sufficient work to justify their presence, one has been granted a visa for three months in the first instance and is expected to arrive in the near
future. The second application is still under
consideration but will probably be refused unless evidence
of a substantial increase in Russian ship repair work is
provided. The last two Russian marine superintendents left Hong Kong in August 1977 and were not replaced following Russian displeasure at the restrictions imposed by Hong Kong.
6.
recently.
No other activities of note have taken place
The Last Three Years
7.
No direct action against the Soviet intelligence services has been taken in Hong Kong since 1972 when two Soviet and two Chinese citizens were arrested as a result
of their involvement in espionage activities. One of the Chinese was subsequently deported to the U.S.S.R.
8.
In October, 1978 Hong Kong allowed the entry from China of a Russian defector, Eduard Stepanovich STARCHENKO, who escaped across the northern border of China. STARCHENKO claimed to be a dissident opposed to suppression
in Russia.
/contd..
CONFIDENTIAL
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