CONFIDENTIAL
Brief No 9
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG
FEBRUARY 1972
ΚΑΙ ΤΑΚ AIRPORT
DEFENSIVE
Points to make
1. The calls for financial assistance from HMG are such that they
can only be met on a system of priorities based on need.
Because of this
it is difficult for HMG to help Hong Kong financially with its
development problems. However, it must not be thought that HMG would
not be prepared to consider assisting Hong Kong in some appropriate
way if an urgent need for such assistance were to arise at some future
time and a specific case were put forward. Meanwhile, HMG are always
ready to assist Hong Kong in other ways whenever the opportunity to do
so arises.
2.
Traffic rights for foreign airlines in Hong Kong are a completely separate issue. We believe that our long term interest (and Hong Kong's)
is best served by our present policy namely, to grant such rights only
in exchange for rights in other countries for British airlines
(including of course Cathay Pacific Airways).
CONFIDENTIAL