CONFIDENTIAL
185
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 220909Z FEB 79
TO PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.310 OF 22 FEBRUARY,
INFO PRIORITY: PEKING,
1.
ROUTINE : HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
HER2 173/1
RACLIYER
INDEX
23 FEB1979
Seel
MY TELNO.229: THROUGH TRAIN SERVICE TO CANTON.
19
31
EXTENSIVE AND DETAILED TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD FROM 12-22 FEBRUARY BETWEEN THE DELEGATION FROM THE CANTON RAILWAY . ADMINISTRATION REFERRED TO IN MY TEL UNDER REF AND A HONG KONG TEAM HEADED BY THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY (K.C.R). DURING THESE DISCUSSIONS PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT WAS REACHED ON ALMOST ALL ISSUES. AGREED MINUTES WERE INITIALLED TODAY. ONE OR TWO MATTERS CONCERNING CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE FOR BOTH PASSENGERS AND GOODS HAVE BEEN DEFERRED TO A LATER MEETING. WE HOPE THIS WILL BE HELD IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
2. PROVIDING THAT NOTHING GOES WRONG IN THE FINAL STAGES, WE HOPE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO START THE THROUGH TRAIN SERVICE IN APRIL AFTER TRIAL RUNS. DURING THE DISCUSSIONS THE K.C.R AGREED PROVISIONALLY TO 9 APRIL AS A TARGET STARTING DATE, BUT WE ARE NOT MENTIONING THIS DATE PUBLICLY.
3. WE RELEASED TODAY A PRESS STATEMENT ABOUT THE DISCUSSIONS AS
IN M.L.F.I.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK YG D
FED
MAED
PS/LORD & CRONNY ROBERTS. PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
COPIES, TO :
HONG KONG GOur Office
LONDON
"TRED
MR. CLITAZIZI
OID
MR MURRAY
NEWS D
MA STRATran
PS
CONFIDENTIAL