EN CLAIR
IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
TELNO 487
UNCLASSIFIED
27 MAY, 1968
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN OFFICE TEL NO 487 OF 27 MAY
RFI TO HONG KONG,POLAD SPORE, WASHINGTON.
1 WAS SUMMONED THIS EVENING BY VICE PRESIDENT LO KWEI-PIO
WHO HANDED TO ME A NOTE WHICH HE REQUESTED ME TO TRANSMIT TO YOU CONCERNING ACTIVITIES OF U.S. WARSHIPS IN HONG KONG.
TEXT IS IN MY I.F.T.
2.
I REBUTTED THE ALLEGATION THAT HONG KONG WAS USED AS AN
OPERATIONAL BASE AND LOGISTICS CENTRE BY U.S. NAVAL AND AIR FORCES, STATING ONCE AGAIN THAT U.S. WARSHIPS VISITED HONG KONG ONLY FOR REST AND RECREATION. I ALSO SAID THAT ALL PRECAUTIONS WERE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT PRESENCE OF NUCLEAR- POWERED SHIPS IN HONG KONG SHOULD PRESENT NO THREAT TO SAFETY OR SECURITY OF THE INHABITANTS OF HONG KONG OR CHINA. I
CHALLENGED HIM TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE THAT PREVIOUS VISITS OF NUCLEAR- POWERED SHIPS HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO HEALTH. I ALSO
DENIED THAT ANY WAR MATERIALS WERE SOLD TO AMERICANS IN
HONG KONG. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE IT WAS FALSE TO SUGGEST THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WERE PURSUING A POLICY OF
HOSTILITY TO THE CHINESE PEOPLE. ON THE CONTRARY WE REMAINED
DESIROUS AND DETERMINED TO IMPROVE SINO/BRITISH RELATIONS.
13. I
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