GR 110
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
(370A
HKK !84/1
SOLD ME REGISTRY NO. 51
13 AUG 1979
RE
FM MANILA 093893Z AUG 79
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 359 OF 9 AUGUST
INFO CANBERRA, SINGAPORE, HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR AND BCARFE), KUALA LUMPUR, JAKARTA, BANGKOK AND WELLINGTON,
1. I LEARN FROM MY AUSTRALIAN COLLEAGUE THAT HE HAS DELIVERED
TO THE MFA A NOTE WARNING THEM THAT NEW LOW FARES BETWEEN AUSTRALIA
AND HONG KONG WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON 13 AUGUST AND BROUGHT ÎNTO
EFFECT ON 20 AUGUST.
2. HE EXPECTS A SHARP FILIPINO REACTION AND IS INSTRUCTED TO COUNTER THIS BY SAYING THAT AUSTRALIA COULD NOT WAIT ANY LONGER TO PUT THESE FARES INTO EFFECT, NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ASEAN COUNTRIES ABOUT A MORE UNIVERSAL LOWER FARE STRUCTURE HAVING DRAGGED ON SO LONG.
3. AS I EXPECT WE, ON BEHALF OF CATHAY PACIFIC, WILL COME IN FOR OUR SHARE OF CRITICISM I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR BACKGROUND AND INSTRUCTIONS.
BENTLEY
FILES
MAED
[COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT]
SEAD
FED
HK & GD
MR CORTAZZI MISS BROWN MR MURRAY
RESTRICTED
5.