TNAG-0022-FCO40-58-Facilities-for-US-Forces-1968 — Page 21

interpretative notes on the guidelines as follows:

(a) Visits of nuclear vessels should be spaced

at intervals of at least two months and the

prement level of four a year should not in gene-

ral bc exceeded. Strictly interpreted this would

mean that there should be no further visits by

vessels

nuclear/this year. But as this might be erro-

neously interpreted by local Communists as a

complete suspension of such visits and exploited

accordingly, we are prepared to consider one

further visit in 1968.

(b) There should be no potentially controver-

sial visits in the two-week period following

the visit of a nuclear-powered vessel, strike

carrier, or helicopter or troop carrier.

(c) The Americans should give us the maximum

possible notice of the visits of major ships,

(a) Visits by "particularly controversial

ships" (defined as those which are zuclear-

powered) might in future last less than 5 days.

(e) Any future visit by the USS "Lnterprise"

will have to be subject to the most careful

consideration.

(1) The nead to avoid the undue concentration

of ships at any one time (Tomkins' letter from

Washington of 12 July to Wilkinson) should be

reemphasised.

(g) It is desirable not to allow the dates of

ships' visits to be known longer in advance than

is absolutely necessary.

4. In view of your comment in paragraph 10 of

your telegram under reference, we see no need to

raise the question of guideline F regarding the

placing of military contracts in Hong Kong.