TNAG-0022-FCO40-58-Facilities-for-US-Forces-1968 — Page 72

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BACKGROUND_NOTE

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United States Naval Visits to Hong Kong

These

Since the end of the Second World War the United States Naval

vessels, in common with those of other nations, have frequently

visited Hong Kong for the purpose of rest and recreation. visits have given rise to Notes of protest from the Chinese People's

Republic to H.M. Government on four occasions: 1 September, 1965;

1 February, 1966; 20 March, 1967; 27 May, 1968.

These protest Notes have invariably contained allegations that

Hong Kong is being turned into a United States military base for

operations against Vietnam. There is no truth whatsoever in these

allegations which have been rejected by H.M. Government on each

occasion that they have been made. On the last three out of four

occasions the protests have been directly occasioned by visits by

the United States nuclear powered aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE which

is anathema to the Chinese Government.

The number of United States naval vessels visiting the Hong Kong

naval base over the past five and a half years has been as follows:

1963

1967

297;

376.

1964

G

315; 1965

332;

1966

391;

1968 (first six months)

176.

In May 1966 guide lines were agreed with the United States

authorities in Washington to govern the use of facilities in Hong

Kong by the United States Armed Forces.

These guide lines,

the existence of which is secret, are intended to provide general

control over such matters as the purpose for which United States Forces may visit Hong Kong (i.e. for rest and recreation only): the scale of visits of United States naval vessels, aircraft and

/ troops

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