227
CRS 159
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FM WELLINGTON #89239Z MAY 79
TO ROUTINE DOT
TELEGRAM NUMBER ALLOT 2 OF 8 MAY
مح
HKK 1847.1.
- 9 MAY 1979
J9.5 A
YOUR ALLOT 3 OF 26 MARCH AND ROGERS' LETTER OF 24 APRIL TO ARCHER JUST RECEIVED: UK/NZ AIR SERVICES.
1. I HAVE MET EDWARDS (SECRETARY OF TRANSPORT) FROM TIME TO TIME SOCIALLY AND HAVE NEVER COME UNDER ANY PRESSURE FROM HIM. HAD THEREFORE BEEN CONTENT TO LET BALL REST WITH AIRLINES. SMITH (BRITISH AIRWAYS AUCKLAND) TOLD ME RECENTLY THAT AFTER ONE FALSE START INTER- AIRLINE TALKS WILL BE HELD MID-MAY IN HONG VONG AND NZ PRESS ARE NOW SUGGESTING, PRESUMABLY ON LOCAL GUIDANCE, THAT REPORTED AGREEMENT BETWEEN ASEAN AND AUSTRALIA WILL CLEAR WAY FOR AGREEMENT ON CHEAP FARES TO BRITAIN VIA LOS ANGELES. ONE REPORT ALSO MENTIONS HONG KONG. ! WOULD PREFER TO AWAIT RESULT OF THESE BEFORE MAKING ANY APPROACH TO OFFICIALS, GRATEFUL FOR UP TO DATE BRIEFING NOW THAT COMMUNICATIONS
ARE RESTORED.
2. PLEASE COPY FCO. AS COMMUNICATIONS UNDER REFERENCE WERE NOT
COPIED ELSEWHERE I LEAVE IT TO YOU TO COPY TO OTHER POSTS IF DESIRED.
SMEDLEY
ALLOT DISTRIBUTION
MAED SPD
HK & GD
RESTRICTED