As the “Police Action” in Korea winds down, my ship, the USS Essex, travels to Hong Kong for a week of “R & R.” The day is overcast as we enter the bustling harbor. Sampans and cumbersome junks mingle in perfect harmony. Suddenly Victoria Peak (1,811 feet) bursts up from the harbor. At the foot of the peak, is a picket fence of soaring office buildings. For a young man who thinks getting a tan in Malibu is a vital necessity, this is heady stuff.The Essex personnel boat shimmies up to the quay. We disgorge like a hungry mob. Directly …