Mr Ross.
? PA
CONFIDENTIAL
Minister of State
F631
For reg. /sa
Visits by American Serviceme
Hemg Kong.
2/1
38
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The total number of American serviconen from Vietnam
at present alloweć visit Hong Kong on rest and recreation at any
is 750. The Americans have requested that this number should be increased immediately to 830 and thereafter be raised as soon as
The possible, proferably by 1 April, to a final target of 996.
Governor of Hong Kong has recommande substance of the American request but that the higher figure of 996 men should only be reached after 1 May and providing ne political
difficulties arise in the intervening peried.
Recommendation
2.
that we should agree to the
that we agree to the Governor's proposal.
He has asked for a reply this week. A draft telegram is attached.
Background and Argum It
I recomend that
-GOVETTIOX
od for a reply-
wook. A draft telegra
proposal.
attached.
Background and Argiment
3.
In November, 1966, we agreed that the mumber of AmericRE
servicemen visiting Hong Kong at any one time should be raised from 664 to 750. The Americans had originally asked for 830 with a finel target figure in view of evor 1,000. The reasons for accepting a
slightly lower figure were:-
胳
(a) it is laid down in the Guidelines agreed between
Americans and ourselves en the use of facilities
in Hong Kong by American service on that any
increase in the scale of visits should be
unobtrusive and take place by easy stages. The
American request in November followed closely on
previous increase in the number of servicemen
allowed to visit Hong Kong and was considered by Covernor to be insufficiently unobtrusive; and
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No. 63
23 FEB1967
HWAY,
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