GR 225.
CONFIDENTIAL
COFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 281030Z
FM HONG KONG 280955Z NOV 78
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELNO.1368 OF 28 NOVEMBER,
INFO IMMEDIATE: PEKING,
ра
HKK 184/1
677
7.00. 51
RECEIVED IN RUI
2 9 NOV 1978
DESK OF
INDEX
ROUTINE : HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.NO
669
PEKING TELNO.77 TO HONG KONG : FLIGHTS BETWEEN CANTON
AND HONG KONG.
RY
ΡΑ
Action Ten
CLE
1. DCA HAS RECEIVED A TELEX FROM CAAC SAYING THAT THE EMBASSY
IN PEKING HAVE INFORMED THE CHINESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
THAT CAAC HAS BEEN PERMITTED TO CONTINUE ITS CHARTER (SIC) OPERATIONS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CANTON FOR THREE MONTHS BEGINNING 1 DECEMBER''. THEY THEN GIVE THE TIMING OF THEIR
PROPOSED FLIGHTS.
2. WE ASSUME THAT PEKING WILL NOW WISH TO CLARIFY WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTRY PRECISELY WHAT WAS SAID ON 26 NOVEMBER AND, IF THIS MESSAGE MEANS THAT THE CHINESE ARE DETERMINED TO STICK
TO CHARTERED SERVICES (RATHER THAN THAT THEY HAVE MERELY MISUNDERSTOOD), TO MAKE THE POINTS IN PARA.3 OF F.C.O TEL NO.739
TO PEKING.
"
23
3. THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PAPER, HSIN WAN PAO, HAS ALREADY PUBLISHED A STORY BASED ON 'RELIABLE SOURCES'' SAYING THAT CHARTER'' FLIGHTS ARE TO CONTINUE AND THAT TICKETS ARE TO BE SOLD FROM TODAY. DCA IS UNDER PRESSURE, PARTICULARLY FROM THE COMMUNIST PRESS AND CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE, TO CONFIRM THAT THIS IS SC. PRESENT HE IS MAKING NO COMMENT. THE SITUATION IS HOWEVER EMBARRASSING SINCE, IF THE CONTINUED FLIGHTS ARE TO BE CHARTERS,
DCA WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ISSUING THE PERMIT FOR THEIR OPERATION.
AT
MACLEHOSE
FILES
FED
MAED
HK & GD
IPD
OID
[COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT]
NEWS D
LEGAL ADVISERS (MR DARWIN)
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MISS BROWN
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
6 GRAFTON STREET, W.1.