TNAG-0020-FCO40-56-Facilities-for-US-Forces-1967 — Page 26

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A-B attached

CONFIDENTIAL

Hong Kong keeping the overall level to that

of 1966.

6. There is also the question of publicity.

The guidelines lay down that there should be

no publicity about the activities of ships in

connection with the Vietnam war for a period of

two to three weeks before these ships visit

Hong Kong. The Americans are well aware of

the dangers of such publicity and, after these

guidelines were agreed, said on their own

initiative that no publicity would be given

within a period of 30 days of a visit to Hong

Kong.

7.

Following the Chinese protest in March

this year, there was considerable publicity

about the activities of the U.S.S. Enterprise

soon after it had left Hong Kong (Hong Kong

Savingram No. 766). It was suggested by

our Office in Peking, and agreed by the

Governor of Hong Kong, that such publicity

so goon after a visit could be almost a8

damaging as publicity before the event.

8.

So far as Chinese reactions are concerned,

the most important point is that there should be

no publicity shortly before a visit to Hong

Kong which might needle them into making a

protest. It is therefore essential that we

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stick to the figure agreed in the guidelines

of no publicity for two to three weeks before

a visit. In addition, however, there is a

great deal to be said for limiting publicity

after a visit, if this can be achieved. The

best way of getting the Americans to agree to

some restriction would probably be to reach

an informal understanding that there should be

/no publicity

CONFIDENTIAL