3
liked. Once the political objections are out of the way it is possible
now
that we could get something better in 1978] The particular things that
would be of very real value in descending order of importance are:-
a)
the ability for BA to over-fly China on any or all
of its services to and from Hong Kong
b)
the exercise of full traffic rights by BA between Hong
Kong and Peking and v.v
c)
the inclusion of additional route points on the UK route
in the Schedule to the ASA so as to give BA greater
operating flexibility.
Para. 6)
7. The above is for your information only, there is no intention that
you should attempt to negotiate for it. You could however say to the
Chinese that five and a half years have passed since the draft ASA was
agreed. In that time things have changed and there might be advantage
in the two governments looking at the draft again to see if it accords
with what each side would have set out to negotiate in 1978. For instance
the PRC is now a member of ICAO and that fact alone renders a fair part
of the agreement as drafted redundant. You could say that the UK is prepared
now to send out a team to Peking to have another look at the draft with
the PRC before signing. Equally we would be happy to welcome a Chinese
team in London.
8.
If the Chinese will not accept our proposed statement as satisfying
their political conditions you should express your great disappointment
and say you will have to report back. We would not however want you to
retract on the offer to issue a temporary operating permit to cover the CAAC
services between Canton and Hong Kong.