TNAG-0021-FCO40-57-Facilities-for-US-Forces-1968 — Page 51

EN CLAIR

IMMEDIATE

по

HONG KONG ΤΟ

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELNO 622

17 MAY 1968

UNCLASSIFIED

ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 231 OF 17 MAY.

PEATED FOR INFORMATION TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE,

68YOUR TELNO 315. [? NO.442 TO FOREIGN OFFICE OF 17 MAY].

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF STATEMENT ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

SERVICES ON 15 MAY.

BEGINS.

ANYONE WITH EYES CAN SEE THAT HONG KONG IS NOT BEING USED AS

A MILITARY BASE.

THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE ENTIRELY WITHOUT FOUNDATION.

AS FOR THE NUMEEF OF SHIPS OF ANY KIND IN THE HARBOUR THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT ANYEODY CAN SEE FOR HIMSELF.

THE NUMBER OF SHIPS OF ANY TYPE OR FROM ANY NATION VARIES BUT AS A MATTER OF FACT THERE ARE SEVEN US NAVAL SHIPS IN HARBOUR AT THIS MOMENT AND THEIR NAMES ARE PUBLISHED IN THIS MORNING'S

PRESS

VISITS.

SINCE THERE IS NOTHING SECRET OR SIGNIFICANT ABOUT RECREATION

NO WAR MATERIALS AFE PURCHASED IN HONG KONG AS THIS REPORT

ALLEGES.

AGAIN ALL THE TRADE OF HONG KONG IS NORMAL COMMERCIAL BUSINESS AND THE COMMODITIES THE QUANTITIES AND THE DESTINATIONS AFE OPENLY PUBLISHED FOR EVERYONE TO SEE IN TRADE STATISTICS WHICH GIVES THE LIE TO THIS ALLEGATION.

THERE IS NO IMPROPER USE OF CONSULAR ORGANISATIONS BY ANY

COUNTRY REPRESENTED IN HONG KONG .

2QMAY 1968

ARCHIVES N~, 45}

RECEIVED IN

य

FINALLY AS RECARDS KAI TAK AIRPORT THIS IS A CIVIL ALPORT AN THE TRAFFIC THROUGH IT IS NORMAL TRAVEL SO THAT IN NO SENSE COULD IT BE DESCRIBED AS A TRANSIT POINT FOR SENDING MEN

AND MATERIALS TO VIETNAM. ENDS.

MR. GASS

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

C.0.

H.K.D.

F.0.

F.E.D.

F.0.

C.O.

DEFENCE DEPT.

DEFENCE DEPT. P.U.S.D.

U.N.D.

•N•D&

F.E. & P.D.

AMERICAN DEPT.

LAST

NEWS DEPT.

S.E.A.D.

DIS MOD

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