(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-29 09:34

HONG KONG - The flagship of the United States Seventh Fleet, USS Blue Ridge, anchored out in the Victoria Harbor Monday morning for a scheduled port visit, the first visit by an American ship to Hong Kong in 2008.

A United States naval officer stands guard at the Navy's battleship, The USS Blue Ridge. The ship's 700 crewmen will stay in Hong Kong at least two days. Monday's docking of a US battleship in Hong Kong marks the first such visit since a US aircraft carrier and minesweepers were turned away in November. [China Daily]

Blue Ridge Commanding Officer Captain David Lausman said, "Hong Kong remains a favorite place for our sailors to visit, and we appreciate Hong Kong's special status and all of the unique international aspects of this beautiful city and port."

He said this visit offers the crew "a great opportunity for a wide variety of cultural exchanges and recreational activities."

Hong Kong-born Petty Officer Franky Ng, who moved to the United States with his family in 1991, told reporters he has gone to many Asian cities with the ship, and Hong Kong always remains his favorite one because it is known as a paradise of dining and shopping.

The 700 sailors aboard will go shopping and sight-seeing during their stay.

USS Blue Ridge makes port calls frequently to cities throughout the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean including Hong Kong. The ship also visited Shanghai in May of 1989, establishing warship visit mechanism between China and the United States.

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