TNAG-0021-FCO40-57-Facilities-for-US-Forces-1968 — Page 37

EN CLAIR

IMMEDIATE PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

TELNO 487

UNCLASSIFIED

27 MAY, 1968

ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN OFFICE TEL NO 487 OF 27 MAY

RFI TO HONG KONG,POLAD SPORE, WASHINGTON.

1 WAS SUMMONED THIS EVENING BY VICE PRESIDENT LO KWEI-PIO

WHO HANDED TO ME A NOTE WHICH HE REQUESTED ME TO TRANSMIT TO YOU CONCERNING ACTIVITIES OF U.S. WARSHIPS IN HONG KONG.

TEXT IS IN MY I.F.T.

2.

I REBUTTED THE ALLEGATION THAT HONG KONG WAS USED AS AN

OPERATIONAL BASE AND LOGISTICS CENTRE BY U.S. NAVAL AND AIR FORCES, STATING ONCE AGAIN THAT U.S. WARSHIPS VISITED HONG KONG ONLY FOR REST AND RECREATION. I ALSO SAID THAT ALL PRECAUTIONS WERE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT PRESENCE OF NUCLEAR- POWERED SHIPS IN HONG KONG SHOULD PRESENT NO THREAT TO SAFETY OR SECURITY OF THE INHABITANTS OF HONG KONG OR CHINA. I

CHALLENGED HIM TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE THAT PREVIOUS VISITS OF NUCLEAR- POWERED SHIPS HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO HEALTH. I ALSO

DENIED THAT ANY WAR MATERIALS WERE SOLD TO AMERICANS IN

HONG KONG. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE IT WAS FALSE TO SUGGEST THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WERE PURSUING A POLICY OF

HOSTILITY TO THE CHINESE PEOPLE. ON THE CONTRARY WE REMAINED

DESIROUS AND DETERMINED TO IMPROVE SINO/BRITISH RELATIONS.

13. I

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