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exchanges at Government level since the February note. The Communist
press both in Hong Kong and Peking have however continued to publish
similar allegations, particularly when major units of the U.S. Pacific Fleet
visit Hong Kong, and it is an issue which the C.P.G. may raise again at any
time.
8. The Chinese have not previously made representations on the use of
Hong Kong by U.S. military forces. The new factor in the situation is
the use of Hong Kong by military personnel, ships and aircraft engaged
in the conflict in Vietnam, and the irritation felt by the Chinese at
Britain's support of American policy in Vietnam.
9.
We do not think these recent protests indicate a Chinese intention
to mount a campaign against Hong or stir up trouble in the colony.
They must, however, be read as a warning against allowing the Americans
too free a use of the facilities that Hong Kong can offer.
10. Since the Second World War American warships and aircraft and
personnel have visited Hong Kong regularly but they have done so solely
for leave and recreational purposes. In 1964 315 U.S. naval vessels and
some 156,000 service personnel visited the colony.
11. There are no U.S. military installations of a warlike nature in
Hong Kong. The majority of the U.S. combatant ships from Vietnamese waters
call at the Philippines before going to Hong Kong but some of the smaller
ships have gone direct. They do not use Hong Kong as a regular
provisioning port but may take on board supplies of perishable foodstuffs
(e.g. bread and ice cream), and the shorter range ships sometimes take on
small quantities of commercial fuel.
12. The only aircraft using Hong Kong are transports, and occasionally
maritime reconnaissance planes from the Philippines, Japan and other
Far Eastern countries which bring V.I.P,'s and troops for rest and
recreation. Since 1964 there has been no regular servicing
arrangements for U.S. military transports though they have received
normal ad hoc maintenance on the tarmac as required.
13.
In view of the Chinese protests and growing American pressure on
Hong Kong to provide facilities for their Army and Vietnam, talks were
held in Washington last year to establish "guide lines" for future policy
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