123
GPS 300
ENCLAIR
F PORT MORESBY 249115Z
UNCLASSIFIED
TO ROUTINE FCO TEL NO 27 OF 24/2
HKK
18411
RECSIVEO ***
2 7 FEB 1978
DISK OFFICER INDEX
AND TO ROUTINE HONG KONG AND ROUTINE WELLINGTON
MY TELEGRAM 21 TO FCO (NOT TO WELLINGTON)
No
REGISTR/
PA
Action Take
1. WE HAVE TODAY RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING NOTE. THE REFERENCE
IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH IS TO THE NEWS ITEM IN THE POST COURIER OF 15 FEBRUARY, COPIES OF WHICH HAVE BEEN SENT BY BAG TO BCARFE, CHANCERY WELLINGTON, AND M.A.E. DEPT., FCO.
2. BEGINS. THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE PRESENTS
ITS COMPLIMENTS TO THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION AND HAS THE
HONOUR TO ADVISE THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA POSITION IN REGARD TO A RECENT
NEWS STATEMENT EMINATING FROM HONG KONG TO THE EFFECT THAT CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS PLANS TWICE-WEEKLY SERVICES BETWEEN HONG KONG
AND NEW ZEALAND VIA PORT MORESBY, COMMENCING IN OCTOBER OF THIS
YEAR.
3. OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES PROVIDES FOR AIR
NIUGINT AND CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS TO OPERATE ONE RETURN SERVICE
EACH WEEK BETWEEN HONG KONG AND PORT MORESBY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING
THAT CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS WOULD NOT COMMENCE OPERATIONS BEFORE
THE 1ST MARCH 1978.
4. IN INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS LATE LAST YEAR THE BRITISH CIVIL
AVIATION REPRESENTATIVE (FAR EAST) RAISED THE POSSIBILITY OF
CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS PROVIDING A TWICE-WEEKLY SERVICE HONG
KONG-PORT MORESBY-AUCKLAND AND IN RETURN THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES
WOULD ALLOW AIR NIUGINI A SERVICE TO A POINT BEYOND HONG KONG. HE WAS
ADVISED THAT OUR POLICY TO DATE HAD BEEN TO EXCHANGE ONLY THIRD AND FOURTH FREEDOM RIGHTS, BUT WE UNDERTOOK TO CONSIDER THE MATTER..
15.
THE