TNAG-0022-FCO40-58-Facilities-for-US-Forces-1968 — Page 16

CYTHER

CYPHER CAT A

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 949 ·

IMMEDIATE

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

31 JULY 1968.

2x8

CONFIDENTIAL.

(249

NAVAL

YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 1335: U.S. NAVAL VISITS.

UNFORTUNATELY THE U.S. NAVY COULD NOT MAKE THE SWITCH BECAUSE IT

WOULD ENTAIL TOO DRASTIC A REVISION OF THEIR PLANS. NOR WOULD A

SHORT POSTPONEMENT OF 'AMERICA' S VISIT BE POSSIBLE.

2. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE, THEREFORE, WOULD BE TO REFUSE PERMISSION

FOR THE VISIT. THE AMERICANS WOULD BE VERY DISAPPOINTED AS ATTACK

CARRIERS ARE THE TOP PRIORITY FOR THEM IN VISITS TO HONG KONG, BUT

IF YOU JUDGED IT NECESSARY IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO CANCEL THEY WOULD

NO DOUBT ACCEPT IT WITH THEIR USUAL OFFICIAL GOOD GRACE.

+

3. I SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL FOR A DECISION ON 'AMERICA VERY SOON

AS PREPARATIONS FOR ITS VISIT ARE ALREADY IN HAND AND, ALTHOUGH THE

AMERICANS HAVE TIGHTENED UP THEIR SECURITY, THE POSSIBILITY OF ITS

ARRIVAL MAY SOON BE KNOWN.

GOVERNOR Zir D. Trench

Fo

Felis

F60 Ersten Est 15

LACT

(2+3)

SENT 310851Z JULY 68

Top +23

RECD

310857Z JULY 68

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES Nɔ. 63 -1 AUG1968

HWO 2/1

Hong Kong Cafe

de A Biting.

4

1 AL Bent

1 Ke129 & ADR

Top 12 Rn I

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