TNAG-0934-FCO40-1153-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-Soviet-Union-1980 — Page 6

GRS 140

UNCLASSIFIED

FM PORT MORESBY 080500Z FEB 1980

TO ROUTINE FCO

TEL NO 15 OF 8/2

HKK020/3

(2 telegram))

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letter to P.A. HR

FOR INFO CANBERRA, HONIARA, SUVA, WELLINGTON, WASHINGTON

AND UKMIS NEW YORK.

MY TELEGRAM 12 TO FCO:SOVIET INTERVENTION IN AFGHANISTAN

W3

(lift (HKGO.)

1. THE PNG MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, MR TONY ILA, ANNOUNCED ON 7 FEBRUARY THAT PAPUA NEW GUINEA WOULD WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT BAN SOVIET VESSELS FROM USING PNG PORTS. THE BAN WOULD LAST SO LONG AS SOVIET TROOPS REMAINED IN AFGHANISTAN.

2. MR ILA REFERRED ESPECIALLY TO THE PASSENGER VESSEL' 'ALEXANDER PUSHKIN' ON A ROUND-THE-WORLD CRUISE AND DUE TO CALL AT MADANG. HE, REGRETTED THE INCONVENIENCE WHICH WOULD BE CUASED TO MANY WEST GERMAN PASSENGERS ON BOARD, BUT HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE SOVIET MERCHANT MARINE WAS INTEGRATED WITH THE SOVIET NAVY

AND HE WOULD NOT MAKE ANY EXCEPTIONS.

3. THE PNG GOVERNMENT HAVE ALSO ABANDONED EXPLORATORY TALKS WHICH

BEGAN LAST YEAR WITH SOVIET OFFICIALS OVER A POSSIBLE FISHERIES RESEARCH PROJECT. PERMISSION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN FOR SOVIET

RESEARCH VESSELS TO OPERATE IN PNG WATERS.

FCO PSE PASS WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK,

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PS/MINISTER OF SPORT

MRR BUTLER

13

DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT