GR 200
CONFIDENTI AL
54
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 230690Z JAN 79
некви
NO. 51
RECOVER
VIND!
M
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICEY. TELNO.155 OF 23 JANUARY,
INFO PRIORITY: WASHINGTON,
ROUTINE : HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
PLEASE PASS FOLLOWING TO D.O.T.
PAN AM OPERATIONS AT HONG KONG.
1. YESTERDAY (22 JANUARY) PAN AM APPLIED TO OPERATE ON THAT DAY
A TRAINING FLIGHT HONG KONG-CANTON AND RETURN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS
A 747SP AND THE ONLY PERSONS ABOARD WERE EMPLOYEES OF PAN AM
LISTED AS EXTRA CREW MEMBERS. PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS CREW
TRAINING AND FAMILIARISATION WITH AIRPORT AND FACILITIES AT CANTON
FOR WHICH PAN AM HOPE TO OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM CHINESE AUTHORITIES
TO USE AS ALTERNATE AIRFIELD TO HONG KONG IN CASE OF DIVERSION
NECESSITATED BY WEATHER ETC. IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE, AND IN VIEW OF THE URGENT NATURE OF THE REQUEST, WE APPROVED THIS NON- SCHEDULED OPERATION OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF PARA.8 OF SECTION 5 OF BERMUDA 11.
2. INDICATIONS FROM HERE ARE THAT SEVERAL AIRLINES WOULD WISH TO OBTAIN THE USE OF CANTON AS A DECLARED ALTERNATE IN VIEW OF THE ECONOMIC AND OPERATIONS ADVANTAGES THIS PROVIDES. HOWEVER, BEFORE WE CAN ACCEPT THIS, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO IMPROVE A.T.C PROCEDURES AND COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES BETWEEN CANTON AND HONG KONG, QUITE APART FROM ANY APPROVALS NECESSARY UNDER RELEVANT ASA S.
MACLEHOE
[COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT]
. COPIES TO:
· HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON
FILES
MAED
HK & GD
NAM D FED
USS BROWN
MR MURRAY MR HALL
CONFIDENTIAL