Bar
GRS 22550
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 190800Z
CONFIDENTIAL
UKKI8H/1
19 NOV 1979
FM HONG KONG 190656Z NOV 79 Sed
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1627 OF 19 NOVEMBER
INFO HONGAID COLOMBO
YOUR TELNO 955: UK/SRI LANKA AIR SERVICES.
UK ROUTE 2 AND SRI LANKA ROUTE 2 IN THE SCHEDULE
PA
505
TO THE UK /SRI LANKA ASA ARE ESSENTIALLY REGIONAL ROUTES AND, INDEED, UK ROUTE 2 IS BASED ON HONG KONG AS A BRITISH POINT. THE QUESTION OF SERVICES ON THESE ROUTES IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND, GIVEN THE VERY LATE NOTIFICATION OF THE TALKS, WE WOULD MUCH PREFER THAT HONG KONG ISSUES SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED
IN THE AGENDA.
2. AS FAR AS THE CHANGES REQUESTED BY SRI LANKA ARE CONCERNED, WE KNOW OF NOTHING OF VALUE THAT CPA COULD USE IN EXCHANGE FOR THE ADDITIONAL RIGHTS WHICCH THE SRI LANK ANS ARE NOW SEEKING. IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT CPA WOULD BE INTERESTED AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE IN EXTENDING THEIR SINGAPORE SERVICES TO COLOMBO. BUT WITH THE HONG KONG/LONDON ROUTE HEARING TAKING PLACE AT PRESENT,
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE A CONSIDERED VIEW.
3. IF HONG KONG ISSUES MUST BE DISCUSSED, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF:
A. NO ACTION IS TAKEN WHICH WOULD PRECLUDE THE POSSIBLE FUTURE OPERATION OF THE REGIONAL ROUTE BY CPA:
B. APPROVAL FOR AIR LANKA TO OPERATE LEASED AIRCRAFT ON SRI LANKA ROUTE 2 IS SUBJECT TO THE USUAL CONDITIONS FOR LEASING BEING OBSERVED AND IN PARTICULAR THAT WHICH RELATES TO THE LESSOR
AIRLINE OF TRAFFIC RIGHTS TO WHICH IT IS NOT ENTITLED.
(WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS PROVIDE AMPLE PROTECTION AGAINST SIA USING AIR LANKA'S HONG KONG TRAFFIC RIGHTS IN DISGUISE): AND
C. NO CONCLUSION IS REACHED IN RESPECT OF REVISION OF SRI
LANKA ROUTE 2.
CATER
FILES
MAED HKOGD MISS BROWN
MR MURRAY
[COPIESSENT TO CADIDOT]
COPIES TO
MR FARRELL
CAIR. DOT
ST
RM 543. VICTORIA
CONFIDENTIAL