GR 365
FIDENTIAL
DESKBY 300900Z
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 300851Z NOV 78.
See 689
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.1374 OF. 30 NOVEMBER,
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING,
ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
[TO PEKING?]
YOUR TELNO.756/: AIR SERVICES.
(686
69
292
HKK 184/1
688
RECEIVED IN MEGISTRY NO. 51
· DESK OF INDEX
1 DEC1978
PA
KUNY
Mexion.TAgr
No a QE
1. D.C.A HAS RECEIVED A TELEX FROM CANTON ASKING APPROVAL FOR A CHARTER FLIGHT ON 1 DECEMBER AT THE TIMES ALREADY ADVERTISED IN THE PRESS. WE HAVE CONFIRMED BY TELEPHONE WITH THE EMBASSY IN PEKING THAT THEY HAD NOT YET (0200Z) RECEIVED ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHINESE. WE HAVE THEREFORE AGREED CANTON'S
REQUEST IN LINE WITH PARA.1. OF YOUR TEL UNDER REF.
2. IT IS STILL NOT CLEAR WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. CANTON'S LATEST
REQUEST REFERRED TO ONE DAY ONLY. THEIR EARLIER REQUESTS FOR NON-SCHEDULED FLIGHTS (MY TELNOS.1331 TO YOU AND 206 TO PEKING) HAVE BEEN MET WITH THE RESPONSE, SO FAR, THAT WE WILL AGREE TO
SCHEDULED FLIGHTS.
2. PARA.1 OF YOUR TEL UNDER REF DOES NOT MAKE IT ENTIRELY CLEAR WHAT YOU MEAN BY APPROVING THE PROPOSALS IN PARAS 3 AND 4 OF PSKING'S TELNO.857. NOR IS IT CLEAR HOW YOU EXPECT US TO ARRANGE
FOR FLIGHTS TO CONTINUE.
4. UNLESS THERE IS A FURTHER APPROACH FROM THE CHINESE IN PEKING
WE MUST SOMEHOW CUT THE KNOT AND AVOID DAMAGING EMBARRASSMENT ALL ROUND. TO DEAL WITH THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM, WE PROPOSE (UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO THE CONTRARY BY 0302Z TOMORROW) TO SEND THE MESSAGE
IN M.1.F.T FROM D.C. TO CAAC CANTON.
CONFIDENTIAL
/ 5. THAT WILL