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FLIGHTS TO CONFORM WITH OUR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, PARTICULARLY IN RESPECT OF THEIR INSTRUMENTATION. DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION IS THEREFORE LOATH TO APPROVE ANY MORE FLIGHTS BY AIR LAOS, OTHER THAN THAT SCHEDULED FOR 25/26 NOVEMBER WHICH HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL 7 DECEMBER. (WE CLEARLY DO NOT WANT TO BLOCK THIS FLIGHT SINCE IT IS BRINGING AN AIR CREW TO TAKE AWAY THE AIR LAOS VISCOUNT AT PRESENT BEING REPAIRED BY HAECO, WHICH WE WOULD ALSO BE WILLING TO SEE FLY FROM HONG KONG TO VIENNTIANE).
4. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE TO TELL THE LAOTIANS WHEN THEY ARRIVE ON 7 DECEMBER THAT IT IS UNLIKELY WE WILL BE ABLE TO AUTHORISE FURTHER FLIGHTS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS SATISFACTORY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AND COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES ARE ESTABLISHED. IF THERE IS A STRONG HUMANITARIAN CASE WHY WE SHOULD ALLOW AIR LAOS TO FLY TO HONG KONG IN FUTURE, WE WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS SYMPATHETICALLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. BUT, GIVEN THE PRESSURE NOW BUILDING UP TO ALLOW FLIGHTS TO VIETNAM, WE THINK IT IS ESSENTIAL TO AVOID ALLOWING ANY FLIGHTS WHICH WEAKEN OUR ARGUMENT ABOUT AIR TRAFFIC SAFETY.
FCO PLEASE PASS DD O T.
ROBERTS
FILES MAED
HK & GD
SEAD
MR.BUTLER
MR. BURROWS
MR.CORTAZZI MR. MURRAY
[COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT]
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