is made the more awkward by the fact that we have frequent air
services with what is, to the Chinese, a rebellious province.
In the middle of this decade, when the Cultural Revolution was
in progress and travel between the two countries was at a very
low ebb, British Airways themselves saw relatively little
commercial advantage in establishing a route to China. The
upsurge of both business and tourist travel now makes the
prospects a good deal more attractive.
above, this is not the main point.
But as I have explained
In view of all this we are making a further effort to persuade
the Chinese to ratify the Air Services Agreement which was
negotiated in 1973,but which, in deference to CPA's interests,
has been left in abeyance ever since.
shall naturally do
our best to do this without provoking the Taiwanese: but as
you will appreciate we have had no means of consulting them
since 1972 and we shall therefore have to judge the situation.
as best we can.