TNAG-0021-FCO40-57-Facilities-for-US-Forces-1968 — Page 85

Flag F

of course doneso. Mr. Carter in his minute of 5 May 1967 said that it is the F.0. assessment that protests about the visits of nuclear- powered ships have been for the record and do not portend hostile Chinese action against the Colony. I also understand that opposition to the visits of U.S. warships and servicemen did not form a significant part of the recent "confrontation" campaign. I assume though that we do not wish to go into this in our reply to the Rev. Huxtable and Mr. Henn's draft reply would seem about all we can reasonably say on the subject.

3. Our draft reply might, therefore, run something like this:-

"Your referred to the leave facilities we grant to U.S. servicement in Hong Kong. There are no U.S. installations or facilities of a war-like nature in Hong Kong. We provide normal "rest and recreation" facilities/and

only I cannot agree with your committee's view that these represent support facilities for the prosecution of the Vietnam war. We have of course carefully weighed the significance of the Chinese protests and taking into account all the considerations that bear on this question we think it right that we should provide these facilities."

Descried with Добейта Mr Wilma (ED.).

Leller brine.

Анб 23.

جمعانه

Norman A. Smith

N.A.SMITH

22 January 1968