CONFIDENTIAL
To:
Submission
Mr. de la Mare
From:
E. Bolland
VISITS BY U.S. SHIPS TO HONG KONG
Problem
Visits by U.S. naval vessels to Hong Kong
have been steadily increasing over the last two
years. The Governor of Hong Kong has reported
that for the first three months of this year
they were slightly in excess of the same period
in 1966. The number of visits tend to fluctuate!
from month to month and the Governor considers
that he can keep them to an acceptable level
(1.e. not more than in 1966) by using the normal
liaison machinery with the Americans. Should
we agree to let the Governor proceed on these
lines?
2. The present arrangements with the Americans
about these visits lay down that there should be
no publicity about participation in the Vietnam
war for two to three weeks before a ship arrives
in Hong Kong. There has recently been some
publicity about the activities of ships soon
after they have left Hong Kong. Should we ask
the Americans to limit publicity after a visit
as well as before?
Recommendation
3.
I recommend that instructions be sent to
the Governor of Hong Kong and H.M. Ambassador in
Washington as in the attached draft telegram.
The Commonwealth Office (Dependent Territories
Divison) concur.
CONFIDENTIAL
/Background