SCR 7/936/49 V
CONFIDENTIAL
RC Samuel Esq
Far Eastern Department
F CO
UNSCHEDULED FLIGHTS FROM CHINA TO HONG KONG
9 December, 1977
You will already have seen from our telegram No. 1237 that the special flights delivering live crabs from China went without any serious problems. The flights seem to have been a success and were given a good deal of publicity here, including articles in the communist press. There was one splendid piece in the 'Ta Kung Pao' which had a picture of crabs crawling out of a basket and the caption "Fresh and alive as ever, they race out to enjoy some fresh air". I fear their enjoyment of the bourgeois air of Hong Kong was all too short lived. I am enclosing a detailed report on the flights prepared by the Director of Civil Aviation. The minor problems which occurred seem to have resulted from the Chinese pilots' inexperience.
2.
From our telegram you will also have seen that we think it highly likely that we will soon be approached by the Chinese to arrange further flights for perishable foodstuffs. I thought it would be helpful to clear our lines with you and Peking before receiving any such request, so that we can, if necessary, reply promptly.
3.
There is also another idea about non-scheduled flights which has been floated here recently. Jardine Airways, who acted as agents for the Chinese on the crab flights, have approached the Civil Aviation Department with the suggestion that they should try to arrange charter flights from Hong Kong to Canton during the period of the next Canton Spring Fair. Their idea is to charter a CAAC 707 and operate daily services to Canton from just before the opening of the Fair to just after its closing. They thought of operating up to a maximum of three services per day and of charging a fare of $200 one way or $400 return.
4.
This suggestion raises a number of problems. To start with, such an intensive service would accentuate the sort of air traffic control difficulties which were
/contd....
CONFIDENTIAL
118