CONFIDENTIAL
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hor had it been envisaged it would.
10 The Hong Kong authorities were also aware of the Taiwan problem and had used and would continue to use their best endeavours to prevent CAAC and CAL aircraft being side-by-side. Whilst a 100% guarantee could not be given that this would never occur because Hong Kong was a very busy airport and was severely limited for space, he was not aware any problems in this respect had so far arisen, Mr Liu said he found Mr Rogers' answer very helpful.
Signature of the Air Services Agreement
11
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Mr Shen requested confirmation of the UK's willingness to sign the draft agreement in its present form. Mr Rogers explained he didn't wish to take a rigid stance and hold strictly to the negotiated draft if there were changes that both sides considered desirable. Nearly five years had elapsed since the ASA was negotiated and some circumstances were bound to have changed eg. China had now become a member of ICAO and this initself could obviate the need for some of the articles of the draft. However he confirmed the UK would be prepared to sign the present text, if that was what the Chinese wanteda He reiterated his earlier view that there must have been some misunderstanding as to what had passed between PUSS(CAS) and the Chinese Vice Minister of Communications. Our desire was for progress on the basis of the 1973 draft agreement backed up by the 1972 political statements. Considération of a "Japanese type" solution would not lead to progress and it should be discarded. There were too many differences between the Anglo-Chinese and the Sino-Japanese air services situations to make comparison useful.
12
Mr Liu agreed there must have been a misunderstanding between the two ministers. He also agreed the UK/China and the Japan/China ASA's should be considered absolutely separately. Progress could be made in the light of the 1972 statement, reviewing the 1973 ASA text if necessary. He regarded the only major outstanding issue as how to organise CAAC's flights to Hong Kong. This would have to be dealt with as part of process of signature of the ASA.
13 Mr Liu explained he would report the substance of discussion to Peking. He asked through whom the UK would like to proceed with the discussions. Mr Rogers explained we were totally flexible on future arrangements. He would however wish to be personally involved in any substantive discussions on the content of the ASA since he was the person responsible for negotiation of air services agreements; otherwise he left it to the Chinese to choose whichever way suited them best. The cordial and relaxed discussions finished after the exchange of the usual courtesies.
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R Impey CAIR/1A
cc FCO
FED
MAED HKGD
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BCARFE
Political Adviser, Hong Kong
Embassy, Peking
Mr Rogers
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