20000121

China allows US

warships to

visit Hong Kong

HONG KONG: China has granted approval for a group of US warships including a submarine and an aircraft carrier to visit Hong Kong next month, a US consulate spokeswoman said on Thursday.

The USS Stennis, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, along with a submarine, a frigate, two destroyers, two guided-missile cruisers and a support ship, will make a port call in Hong Kong from February 8 to 12, she said.

She added it was largest group of warships to be given approval to visit Hong Kong since the May 7 bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia during the Kosovo conflict.

Some 7,000 crew on the eight ships will be in Hong Kong for rest and recreation during the visit.

Following USS Blue Ridge's port call in Hong Kong last month, she said the Chinese government had given "a number" of approvals for US warships and military aircraft to call on the territory.

However, she declined to comment on whether Sino-US military relations were returning to normal, saying "at this point, we don't characterise. We just give the fact."

After the US-led NATO bombing, in which three Chinese people were killed and 20 injured, Beijing suspended military and security exchanges with Washington.

China has since turned down several requests for US navy ships to dock and aircraft to land in Hong Kong, but has also given the go ahead to other ships and aircraft.ÑAFP