39
TELE LETTER
CONFIDENTIAL
42
R+B
To: CO Hum, Esq, PEKING
From: R C Fursland, Far Eastern Dept, FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
Akk.s4/12 April 1979
INDEX
по
17 APR 1979
No Jis.4
YOUR TELNO 376: AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT
Y
.en
1. This is just to confirm that, as I told you over a very bad line earlier today (Thursday 12 April), the Air Services negotiating team would be able to arrive in Peking on 17 May, to start negotiations on Friday 18 May.
2. This is absolutely the earliest that can be managed. The officials concerned have to be in London for the week beginning 7 May, and therefore cannot leave until the weekend of 12/13 May; as they need a couple of days for discussions/briefing in Hong Kong on the way, they will not be able to arrive in Peking until Thursday 17 May.
3. We appreciate, as do the Department of Trade, the strain which this is likely to put on your resources, at
a time when you will be busy with other things. Nevertheless we hope that, despite the difficulties, you will be able to arrange for someone from the Embassy to attend the talks. At least the talks should not impose too much strain on your secretarial staff, as the team propose to take a secretary with them.
(signed):
CONFIDIAITAL
I am copying this teleletter
to David Wilson in Hong Kong
(by bag), John Northover (MAED),
Nigel Williamson (HKGD) and Tom Stables (C/AIR/DOT)
(RC Fursland)