CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
TELNO 1002
28 MAY 1968 (HWB)
TO
184
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1002 OF 28 MAY REPTD FOR INFMN
TO PEKING WASHINGTON AND POLAD SINGAPORE.
183) YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 686: VISITS OF U.S. NAVAL VESSELS.
WE SHARE YOUR VIEWS ABOUT THE UNDESIRABILITY OF ALLOWING ANOTHER
VERY LARGE WIRSHIP TO VISIT HONG KONG SO SOON AFTER THE ENTERPRISE,
WE AGREE THEREFORE THAT YOU SHOULD REFUSE CLEARANCE, REPEATING
YOUR SUGGESTION THAT THE VISIT SHOULD BE RESCHEDULED FOR LATER.
2. IN ADDITION TO USS BOSTON, THE AMERICANS HAVE INDICATED
THROUGH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE LIAISON CHANNELS IN LONDON THAT THEY
WILL ALSO BE ASKING FOR CLEARANCE FOR A VISIT BY THE NUCLEAR-
POWERED GUIDED MISSILE CRUISER LONG BEACH TO HONG KON FROM 7-12
JUNE. THEY ARE BEING INFORMED THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY ASK FOR THIS
VISIT ALSO TO BE RESCHEDULED.
3. WE ARE SOMEWHAT CONCERNED THAT THE AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE PLANNED THIS SERIES OF VISITS BY THREE LARGE SHIPS IN A ROW, TO OF WHICH ARE
NUCLEAR-POWERED. THIS IS NOT WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF THE GUIDELINES (SEE GUIDELINE D ABOUT THE EVEN SPACING OF VISITS BY LARGE SHIPS),
4. YOU WILL BY NOW HAVE SEEN THE COMMENTS OF THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES
IN PEKING ON THE CHINESE PROTEST NOTE REGARDING THE VISIT OF 179) ENTERPRISE (PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 491). QUESTION OF FURTHER US NAVAL
VISITS, PARTICULARLY THEIR TIMING, MUST CLEARLY BE REVIEWED.
5. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS IN DUE COURSE.
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