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China UPDATED: 18:58, June 10, 2006 U.S. aircraft carrier makes port call in HK http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200606/10/eng20060610_272917.html The USS Ronald Reagan, the U.S. Navy's newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, arrived at Hong Kong waters Saturday morning for port call in Hong Kong. It is the first time the U.S. aircraft carrier comes to Hong Kong since it was laid to commissioning in July, 2003. Many of the crew members are looking forward to touring the Disneyland, the Peak Park and shopping, Rear Admiral Michael H. Miller, Commander of the Carrier Strike Group, told reporters aboard the ship. They will spend more than 30 million HK dollars (about 3.8 million U.S. dollars) during their short stay in Hong Kong, Rear Admiral Miller said. More than 6,000 officers and personnel aboard the carrier and three other ships would participate in charity programs and other friendship-building activities during their stay in Hong Kong, according to Rear Admiral Miller. However, Rear Admiral Miller held his lips when asked what the mission was for the USS Ronald Reagan and its support vessels in Hong Kong and how long it would stay. Before arriving in Hong Kong, the USS Ronald Reagan had been to Australia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia since its deployment to the Western Pacific from its home port in San Diego, California, early this year. Named after late former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, the aircraft is the ninth ship of the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers with a displacement of 97,000 tons at full load. It took about five years and 4.5 billion U.S. dollars to build this U.S. most advanced aircraft carrier before it was commissioned on July 12, 2003. The carrier towers 20 stories above the waterline and its flight deck covers an area of 4.5 acres. Its other dimensions inspire awe too since its length is almost as long as the Empire State Building -- 1,096 feet, or about 334 meters. Two nuclear reactors provide propulsion for more than 20 years without refueling. Besides loaded with weapons like NATO Sea Sparrow Missiles, Rolling Airframe Missiles, guns and electronic warfare, it carries more than 60 combat aircraft, including the F-18 jet fighters. Source: Xinhua Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved
