A little follow-up now...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312528,00.html
“China Reverses, OKs U.S. Aircraft Carrier to Enter Hong Kong for Thanksgiving Hours After Sailors Left”
Thursday, November 22, 2007
AP
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “HONG KONG — China said thousands of American sailors on board a flotilla of U.S. warships could spend Thanksgiving in Hong Kong as planned, but Thursday’s message came hours after the ships had already left after earlier being refused entry to the city’s port.”
“ARTICLE SNIPPET: “This is a surprise,” Zweig said. “I haven’t heard of ships being turned away like this before. I’m also disappointed and saddened for the families who have flown here expecting to see their relatives and are not now going to have their reunions.””
A few more details:
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/23/hongkong.us.warships.ap/?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail
November 23, 2007 — Updated 0710 GMT (1510 HKT)
“U.S. commander ‘perplexed’ by China’s refusal of warship visit”
HONOLULU, Hawaii (AP)
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “China later reversed its decision, but by that time the aircraft carrier, along with four warships and a nuclear submarine, were already leaving the area under heavy weather. The vessels chose not to turn around. The Kitty Hawk and its strike group were on their way back to Yokosuka on Friday, a U.S. Navy offical said.
Beijing has given no reason why it refused the ships entry.”