أريد
ED 120/024
Civil Aviation CA.2(3B)
3<
259
2 June 1969
H
Dear White,
I am writing on Coe's behalf about the following P.Q. we are handling (and on which we should be grateful for a little co-operation from yourself as further explained below): -
Mr. Tim Fortescue (Liverpool, Garston):
To
ask the President of the Board of Trade what facilities are normally provided by his Department at airports in British overseas territories.
We have seen an extract from the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
of 13 May 1969 showing, briefly, that Mr. Fortescue recently visited Hong Kong and proposed, on his return, to recommend our Minister of State, Mr. Rodgers, that he should visit Hong Kong to investigate Hong Kong's application for a loan for Kai Tak runway extension. We also understand that Mr. Fortescue was at one time in the Col。nial Administration in Hong Kong. It seems, therefore, that his P.Q. - although so generally worded - may have something to do with Hong Kong's application for assistance with their airport development, and with this in mind it will be necessary to be specially careful what is said in reply.
Coe is thinking of recommending an Answer broadlyǝon the lines of the draft enclosed. Several points that might be included in the Notes for Supplementaries, and the sort of replies that might be recommended on these, are also indicated in the Enclosure.
We should be grateful for any comments you would like te“ offer on this draft Answer and Supplementaries, and for any other suggestions you might have, either as regards additional Notes for Supplementaries or Background Notes.
(a)
We envisage our own Background Notes as consisting mainly of
A short statement of the arrangements whereby the Board of Trade occasionally contributes towards the cost of aerodromes (or other ground facilities) in Colonial territories, under the Colonial Formula, where relevant conditions, including particularly the British trunk route interest, justify our doing so;
B. 0. White, Esq.,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
Aviation, Marine and Telecommunications Department,
Great George Street,
London, S.W.1.
/ (b)