аг
1.
1
MAI
1807
Cypher
IMMEDIATE
COPY FOR RESISTRATION, ·
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 29th April, 1967.
" R. 29th
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 520
04252
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 60.
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.)
Repeated
#
Peking No.180
Washington No.101
(Please pass IMMEDIATE to both).
(22)
DARTFORD.
At present left-wing press reaction to this
incident is muted but a major anti-American campaign may well develop. Injured men are no doubt members of Hong Kong Seamen's Union, which has recently been pursuing a militant policy. The local left may be encouraged by reports of anti-American reactions in Parliament and in the 'Times' to think that this is a good issue on which to exploit Anglo-American 'contradictions'.
2.
U.S. naval visits here may thus very well come under more severe attack. In addition to visit of 'TICONDEROGA' from 4th 9th May (my telegram No. 397) and nuclear-powered 'BAINBRIDGE from 19th to 24th May (my telegram No. 496) 89) U.S. authorities have now asked for clearance for 'BOSTON'
a guided-missile heavy cruiser from 9th 15th May. This is a fairly full programme.
3.
Subject to your comments, I do not think that at present we have adequate grounds for suggesting deferment of these visits. But I would propose to tell U.S. Consulate- General that if we have evidence of the development of real trouble over 'DARTFORD', we may have to ask for visits to be cancelled or curtailed at very short notice indeed.
(Passed as requested)
Distribution
Hong Kong & West Indian 'C' Dept. I.G.D.
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
Copy also sent to:-
Foreign Office
S.E.A.D.
CA
on
HWA 3/1
REF.
96
CONFIDENTIAL
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