GRS 249
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 161600Z JAN 79
TO PRIORITY BANGKOK
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 15 OF 16 JANUARY
735 2
HICK 184/1
REVE
WO: 51
INO
NY
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INFO SINGAPORE, CANBERRA, WELLINGTON, HONGN KONG, (GOV+BCARFE).
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YOUR TEL NO 35 AND CREDA TEL NO 6 (NOT TO ALL): AIR SERVICES.
1. FOLLOWING THE DISCUSSIONS IN LONDON LAST SEPTEMBER (OUR
SAVINGS TEL OF 25/9/78) WE HAD ENVISAGED THAT DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT CAPACITY ON TRUNK ROUTE WOULD TAKE PLACE ABOUT THE MIDDLE
OF THIS YEAR. CAPACITY ON THE REGIONAL ROUTES IS A MATTER FOR
CPA AND THAI INTERNATIONAL UNDER THE TERMS OF THE 1977 COMMERCIAL
AGREEMENTS.
2. IN THE LIGHTS OF YOUR TEL NO 1 ROGERS HAD ASSUMED THAT HE NEED
CALL ONLY BRIEFLY IN BANGKOK AND THAT LITTLE MORE THAN A COURTESY
VISIT WAS NEEDED. IT APPEARS FROM YOUR TELEGRAMS UNDER REFERENCE
HOWEVER, THAT THE THAIS
ARE EXPECTING MORE SUBSTANTIVE NEGOTIATIONS.
•
3. ROGER'S CURRENT PROGRAMME (OUR TEL NO 26 TO SINGAPORE) WOULD NOT
PERMIT HIS TO VISIT BANGKOK UNTIL THE WEEK COMMENCING 12 FEBRUARY.
IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO FIT IN TALKS BOTH IN SINGAPORE AND IN
BANGKOK DURING THAT WEEK: AND IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE BRUNEI
NEGOTIATIONS ARE NOW TIMED FOR 19/21 FEBRUARY, THIS SEEMS THE ONLY
REALISTIC POSSIBILITY. HOWEVER, THE CHANCES ARE THAT THREE DAYS
WILL BE NEEDED IN SINGAPORE AND, AFTER ALLOWING FOR TRAVEL,
THIS WOULD LEAVE ONLY ABOUT 1 1/2 DAYS FOR BANGKOK (SAY 15/16
FEBRUARY). IF THIS PROVED INSUFFICIENT ROGERS MIGHT FIT IN A
/FURTHER
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CONFIDENTIAL
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