Non sequitur news of the day: China: Bin Laden burial ship applies to visit HK

China: Bin Laden burial ship applies to visit HK
The Associated Press
Posted: 05/05/2011 03:43:45 AM PDT
Updated: 05/05/2011 03:51:52 AM PDT

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17998140?nclick_check=1

HONG KONG—The U.S. aircraft carrier that conducted Osama bin Laden's burial at sea has applied to make a port call in Hong Kong later this month, Chinese authorities said Thursday.

China's foreign ministry said the U.S. military has applied for permission for the USS Carl Vinson to stop in Hong Kong.

"We've received the American application and will handle it according to regular procedures," ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

She said applications are handled based on their specific details and on a case-by-case basis.

The spokesman for the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong, Matthew Dolbow, said there were "no announcements to make at this time with regards to future visits."

News of the visit was first reported by the South China Morning Post newspaper.

Bin Laden was killed in a raid on his compound in Pakistan by U.S. Navy SEALs, who took his body by helicopter to the aircraft carrier.

The Pentagon said the body was sunk in the waters of the northern Arabian Sea after adhering to traditional Islamic procedures.