3.
C.O. telegram No. 1252 drew attention to
the fact that whatever the extent of their
genuine fears the Chinese were likely to use
the visits of U.S. naval vessels to Hong Kong
as a pretext in preventing any improvement in
Sino-British relations and in particular for
It was
holding up exit visas for the Mission.
proposed to review the guide lines together
with the Americans in Hong Kong, making the
following points:
(a) That while we did not at present wish to
terminate or suspend the general arrangements
under which visits took place, there was a
requirement to space visits carefully in view
of our current difficulties with the Chinese.
That there should be no visits by
(b)
potentially controversial vessels in the fort-
night or so after a visit by a nuclear powered
ship, strike carrier or helicopter or troop
carrier to Hong Kong.
·
(c) · That the Americans should give us the
maximum possible notice of major ship visits.
(a) That visits by particularly controversial
ships might in future last less than the
customary five days.
(e) That the visits of nuclear powered ships
as such be subject to special spacing.
*
(1) That future requests for visits by the
nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS "Enterprise"
would require very careful consideration indeed,
and
/(g)