CONFIDENTIAL
179
Cypher/Cat A
IMMEDIATE
Telno 491
PEKING
ΤΟ
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE
28 May 1968
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 491 of 28 May, Repeated for information to Hong Kong, Washington, POLAD Singapore.
(176) (177) My telegrams Nos. 487 and 488: Enterprise.
73
We can take some comfort from the fact that protest concen- trated on the issue of America's use of Hong Kong. As expected, Chinese describe visit of Enterprise as a provocation and proof of insincerity. But they did not, either in Note or subsequent exchange, make so much of these points as they might have done.
2. It remains to be seen what other effect this visit will have. Much will depend on the reactions in Hong Kong and I should be grateful for immediate information of any development there.
3. For the future it should be noted that Lo emphasised that the use of Hong Kong by warships of a "hostile country" represented a "political and military threat" to China and that United States found Hong Kong a useful "base of operations and logistic centre" for its military effort in Viet Nam. Given Chinese attitude on Viet Nam, quite apart from other factors involved, it seems likely that Chinese will continue to make trouble on this issue. In view of this and the very strained Sino/British relations I hope we shall conduct an immediate review of question of United States Naval visit, as promised in your telegram No. 536. I shall reserve any further comment until then.
4.
I await instructions on whether to return Chinese Note.
Foreign Office pass Washington 121, POLAD Singapore 141, Priority to both.
Sir D. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
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