CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.664 TO FCO.
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5. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND IN THE PRESS HAVE BEEN FAIRLY
WIDESPREAD AND HAVE BEEN DIRECTED MAINLY AGAINST ONLY THREE
CLAUSES OUT OF A TOTAL OF 50 AMENDING CLAUSES AND SUB-CLAUSES.
THE THREE CLAUSES CONCERNED ARE CLAUSE 12(C), CLAUSE 23 AND
CLAUSE 24.
6. YOUR PARAGRAPH 3. BECKER RECENTLY INITIATED A SHORT-LIVED
AND UNSUCCESSFUL BOYCOTT OF THE UNITED ARAB AIRLINES BY HAECO
STAFF AS A FORM OF PROTEST AGAINST THE MIDDLE-EAST HIJACKINGS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMPANY SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD BECKER THAT HIS
ACTION HAD PLACED THEM IN AN EMBARRASSING POSITION VIS-A-VIS
THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND THAT THEY GAVE HIM THE OPTION OF RESIGNING
WITH THREE MONTHS SEVERANCE PAY AND AIR PASSAGES TO U.K. OR
BEING DISMISSED. HE CHOSE TO RESIGN. I DO NOT IN ANY CASE SEE
HOW GOVERNMENT COULD INTERVENE IN THIS MATTER. IF MR BECKER FEELS
HE HAS BEEN WRONGFULLY DISMISSED, HIS REMEDY IS TO TAKE CIVIL
ACTION IN THE COURTS.
7. WE EXPECT THAT CLIVE JENKINS WILL VISIT HONG KONG AFTER HE
HAS COMPLETED A VISIT TO HANOI BUT THIS IS STILL UNCERTAIN.
SIR D.TRENCH
FILES
HONG KONG DEPT.
O.L.A.
MR. WILFORD
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION U.N.D. COTIES
4
COPY TO:
MR. STRETTON MPBW
CONFIDENTIAL