RR MANILA
ADVANCE COPY
RR GOVERNOR HONG KONG
RR BCARFE HONG, KONG
GR 260
UNCLASSIFIED -
DESKBY 317900Z JAN 79
FM BANGKOK 310338Z JAN 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TEL NO 87 OF 31/1/79
IMMEDIATE
HKck 184/1
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//
AND TO IMMEDIATE CANBERRA, SINGAPORE, WELLINGTON(FOR ROGERS)
INFO JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR, MANILA, HONG KONG(FOR GOVERNOR AND BCARFE)
IK/AUSTRALIA AIR SERVICES.
1.TODAYS **BANGKOK POST' CARRIES AN INTERVIEW WITH THAI INTERNATIONALS VICE-PRESIDENT FOR MARKETING, CHATRACHAI BUNYA-ANANTA, IN WHICH HE SAYS OF THE ICAP SCHEME THAT:
**THIS ISSUE HAS NOW BECOME A POLITICAL ONE, BUT THE
COMMERCIAL SIDE SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN EITHER,'. THE ASEAN UMBRELLA SHOULD BE USED FOR 1SSUES WHICH AFFECT ALL THE ASEAN COUNTRIES
AND ON SUCH MATTERS WE WILL GIVE THE ASEAN STAND OUR FULL
BACKING.
HOWEVER, IF IT GETS TO THE STAGE WHERE SUCH A STAND IS DETRÍ MENTAL
TO THE INTERESTS OF ASEAN AS A GROUP AND BENEFITS ONLY
ONE MEMBER COUNTRY, THEN OUR BACKING WILL BE ONLY AS DEEMED COMMERCIALLY APPROPRIATE**.
2.CHATRACHIA GOES ON TO SAY THAT, BECAUSE OF THE PENALTY THAI HAS TO PAY FOR CARRYING PASSENGERS ON THE DIRECT LONDON-AUSTRALIA
ROUTE, CARRYING OF SUCH PASSENGERS HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ONLY ABOUT 5%,OR 39 PASSENGERS PER WEEK, AND IN THE FUTURE THE FIGURE COULD WELL BE REDUCED TO ZERO. HE CONTRASTS THIS
WITH SINGAPORES CARRIAGE OF SOME FOUR THOUSAND PASSENGERS PER WEEK, AND CONCLUDES: