GRS 223
CONFIDENTIAL
BY 1109002
FM PEKING 113800Z APR 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 376 OF 11 APR
CONTIDENTIAL
HKK 184/PA.
1 1 APR 1979
(39)
51
REGISTRY
Taki
INDEX
PA
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR AND CAREE)
NO
18.4
38
YOUR TELNO 217: AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT
Sea (14)
1. BEFORE WE SPEAK TO THE CHINESE, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD SEE YOUR WAY TO BRINGING FORWARD THE DATES ON WHICH THE TEAM COMES TO PEKING,
2. I RECOGNISE THE DIFFICULTY OF THIS, BUT BY THE END OF MAY WE SHALL BE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE VISIT BY THE DUKE OF KENT AND THE ENERGY EXHIBITION, WHICH WILL LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE WE CAN GIVE. THERE IS ALSO THE LIKELIHOOD
THAT A TEAM WILL BE OUT HERE ABOUT THEN TO EGOTIATE THE FOLLOW- UP TO THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT,
30
IF, DESPITE HONG KONG'S ARGUMENT IN THEIR TELNO 447, YOU TOOK THE VIEW THAT AGREEMENT TO OPERATE CHARTER FLIGHTS TO HANGZHOU AND NANJING OR ANY FURTHER EXTENSION OF THE GUANGZHOU PERMIT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS, IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER TO GET AHEAD WITH THE TALKS. THE LATER IN MAY WE LEAVE THEM THE MORE IT WILL SEEM THAT WE ARE SIMPLY PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE CHINESE, AND THIS WILL NOT HELP US IN NEGOTIATION. INDEED IF TALKS DO NOT BEGIN UNTIL LATE IN MAY, I SEE LITTLE POINT IN HOLDING OUT ON THE CHARTER PERMITS.
3. YOU MAY WISH ALSO TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SULLIVAN'S TELELETTER OF 11 APRIL TO FURSLAND ABOUT CAAC FLIGHTS FROM BANGKOK TO CHINA.
CRADOCK
FILES
COPIES SENT TO CAD / DOT
SENT ALSO BY BAG TO HONG KONG
FED
MAED HKJGD
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY MISS BROWN
CONFIDENTIAL