'This visit to Hong Kong is an example of our continuing desire to have openness, meet people, bring out our sailors - our best ambassadors - and educate them,' Admiral Greenert told members of the American Chamber of Commerce at the Island Shangri-La hotel.

'A whole generation of sailors hasn't been to the Western Pacific to understand where this next decade is going. The Asia-Pacific is the future for our country.'

He predicted a minimum of 12 stops during the year, perhaps four or five this month. Some would involve two or three ships and others could include more, such as when the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier visited in December.

'Subject to negotiations with mainland China, who have been good about our port visits, you'll see a lot of ships here and sailors around,' he said. 'It's a favourite stop and as I've always thought, if you can't have fun in Hong Kong, you probably can't have fun.'

Hong Kong is a favoured recreation stop for the fleet, which is based in Japan. Admiral Greenert said sailors spent an average of US$100 a day while in the city and generally stayed three or four days. Visits by aircraft carriers could generate US$4 million for the economy and smaller ships a minimum of US$250,000.

A Tourism Board spokesman said 85 per cent of sailors who came to Hong Kong went shopping and 64 per cent went to bars and discos. Visitor kits distributed on arrival aimed to 'enhance their experience of Hong Kong and stimulate their spending'.

Admiral Greenert also hinted at a policy rift regarding China between the US Navy and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

'Left to my own devices, I'd go to China and chit-chat with my counterpart fleet commander,' he said. 'But we can't do that - we have a secretary of defence staff-directed relationship - a determined process for military-to-military relationships with the Republic of China. We would like to show them what we're about and to know what they're about and to be clear and open.'