GR 300
~ 4KK T8 4/3
180/3
SEAD
зсл
PHER CAT A
1-A
FN DOT 25171OZ
RESTRICTED
INDEXX
TO PRIORITY BANGKOK TELMO ALLOT 24 OF 25 OCTOBER
PERSONAL FOR ROGERS FROM STANDEN
нного
LAET
MAED 3
F
RP
36
YOUR VISIT TO HONG KONG: HONG KONG TELNO 143 OF 24 OCTOBER-
ITEM (3) OF THE PROPOSED LIST OF ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION FUTURE
EXPANSION OF CPS'S NETWORK MIGHT BE USED TO RESURRECT CPA'S
INTENTIONS ON UK ROUTE I UNDER THE UK/SRI LANKA ASA. THIS IS A
VALUABLE HONG KONG ORIGINATING ROUTE: HONG KONG ONE INTERMEDIATE POINT COLOMBO SEYCHELLES NAIROBI JOHANNESBURG WHICH PROVIDES HALF (ABOUT POUNDS STERLING 1.4M) OF THE UK'S TOTAL ANNUAL EARNINGS FROM THE BILATERAL (ABOUT POUNDS STERLING 2.7M)
AND SWINGS IT IN OUR FAVOUR. (AIR CEYLON HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPERATE TO HONG KONG BUT DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO SO.) THERE IS
A CAPACITY LIMITATION OF 2 SERVICES P W FOR EACH SIDE: WIDE
BODIES CAN BE USED BUT SUBJECT TO A 230 PER FLIGHT SEAT RESTRICTION.
2. PRIOR TO GARDNER'S LAST ROUND OF TALKS WITH THE SRI LANKANS
IN DECEMBER 1976 HONG KONG WERE CONSULTED AS TO THEIR INTEREST
AND REPLIED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE DESIGNATION FOR CPA TO OPERATE
SERVICES ON THIS ROUTE. CAPACITY 2 OR 3 B707 PER WEEK, TO BEGIN NOT BEFORE NOVEMBER 1977, MORE LIKELY TARGET, DATE APRIL 1978.
3. WE TURNED THIS DOWN AND AFTER SOME FURTHER EXCHANGES THEY
WITHDREW POSSIBLY INFLUENCED BY AIR CEYLON'S RUMOURED LINKS
WITH THE NOW HAPPILY DEFUNCT AIR SIAM. YOU MAY RECALL THAT YOU
ALSO DEALT WITH THIS WHEN YOU VISITED HONG KONG IN NOVEMBER AND
MADE IT PLAIN TO THEM THAT QUOTE A SERVICE TO COLOMBO AND BEYOND
WAS SIMPLY NOT A REALISTIC GOAL UNQUOTE. SIMILARLY THEY HAVE
GONE QUIET ON THEIR OPERATIONS FOR THE SEYCHELLES AND NAIROBI
BEYOND INDIA.
4. IF YOU WISHED TO RAISE ANYTHING UNDER THIS ITEM YOU MIGHT ASK
WHETHER THEY ARE PLANNING TO OPERATE TO KATHMANDU OVER INDIA AS
PROVIDED FOR IN THE LATEST CMU WITH THE INDIANS, SINCE RIGHTS WOULD
HAVE TO BE SOUGHT FROM THE NAPALESE.
-
5. WE CANNOT IMAGINE WHY THEY HAVE PUT ITEM (16) UK INDIA ASA
ON THE LIST, BUT IF THERE IS DISCUSSION YOU MAY WISH TO KNOW THAT BÀ HAVE TOLD US THAT A TRIPARTITE CRA/BA/AIR INDIA MEETING HAS MOM