HONG KONG: The USS Kitty Hawk battle carrier group will soon make its first stop in Hong Kong since it was denied access by Beijing over the Thanksgiving holiday, a US official said on Wednesday.

"The Kitty Hawk will stop in Hong Kong over the next few days," US consulate spokesman Dale Kreisher told AFP.

Around 7,000 sailors from the carrier and up to six support ships will visit Hong Kong during the stay.

China barred the USS Kitty Hawk and its accompanying ships from Hong Kong in November last year, leaving thousands of servicemen unable to celebrate the annual Thanksgiving holiday with relatives who had flown over to join them.

The move caused a diplomatic spat between the two countries, and led to a Beijing visit by the commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Timothy Keating, to try and ease tensions.

In a sign of improved cooperation earlier this month, the USS Nimitz carrier group visited Hong Kong following a visit by a smaller command ship, the Blue Ridge, in January.


- AFP/so