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US aircraft carrier docks in Hong Kong
The US aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk sailed into Hong Kong yesterday on its final visit to the port five months after being turned away by China.
- AP
- Published: 23:59 April 28, 2008
- The US aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk is shown in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour.
- Image Credit: AP
Hong Kong: The US aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk sailed into Hong Kong yesterday on its final visit to the port five months after being turned away by China.
"We're delighted to be back," said the ship's commander, Rear Admiral Richard Wren. But he said the US was still "not completely satisfied" with China's explanation of why the carrier was denied entry in November.
"We were never provided a concise explanation," he said.
The Kitty Hawk, with about 5,000 sailors on board, was joined by one cruiser and three destroyers - the USS Shiloh, USS Curtis Wilbur, USS Stethem and USS Lassen - on its five-day port call.
Decommissioning
The 47-year-old ship, based in the Japanese port of Yokosuka, is the only US aircraft carrier based outside the US. The diesel-powered vessel is to return to the US in late May for decommissioning and will be replaced by the nuclear-powered USS George Washington.
The carrier attempted to make a long-scheduled port call in Hong Kong last Thanksgiving, but was told before its arrival that it had not obtained clearance from Beijing.
The thousands of US sailors on board were unable to meet their families and friends who had flown to the city to spend the holiday with them.
Beijing later said it would allow the carrier to enter Hong Kong on humanitarian grounds, but the decision came as the carrier was already leaving.
The incident damaged relations between the US and Chinese militaries. The top US commander in the Asia-Pacific, Admiral Timothy Keating, said Beijing's behaviour was unacceptable, while Beijing said the US military had not followed correct procedures.
Some analysts suggested China was retaliating for a decision by the US Congress to award exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama its highest civilian honour.
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