CONFIDENTIAL
HKK184/2.
CCT 1979
68 50
COMIDENTIAL
FFCO 1218022 OCT 79
TO PRIORITY HONG (GOVERNOR AND ECARFE)
TELEGRAM NUMBER 829 OF 12 OCTOBER
INFO PEKING
259
See (262
INDEX
PA
261
YOUR TELS NOS 1370 AND 1419: PRC/HONG KONG AIR SERVICES.
1. IF THE UK/PRC AIRSERVICES AGREEMENT HAD ALREADY BEEN SIGNED, WE TOULD SEE NO PROBLEM ABOUT PUTTING CAAC SERVICES BETWEEN CANTON AND HONG KONG ON A MORE PERMANENT FOOTING. BUT WHILE THE QUESTION CF SIGNATURE CONTINIES TO HANG FIRE, WE WOULD PREFER TO GO FOR SHORT EXTENSION OF THEIR OPERATING PERIT WHICH EXPIRES ON 11
OCTOBER.
2. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT THE AG DCA SHOULD SAY THAT THE UK GOVER- MENT SEE CAAC'S SERVICES AS FALLING WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE REGIONAL ARRANGEMENTS NEGOTIATED IN PEKING WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON THE DATE OF THE SIGNING OF THE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT, VE HOPE THAT SIGNATURE OF THE ASA WILL TAKE PLACE DURING PREMIER HUA'S FORTHCOMING VISIT TO BRITAIN BUT THAT SINCE THE TIMING OF THE LATTER AND THE DATE OF EXPIRY OF THE CURRENT OPERATING PERMIT FUN HARD ON EACH OTHER AND WILL THEREFORE NOT ALLOW SUFFICIENT LEAD-TIME FOR THE NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS TO BE COMP- LETED FOR PUTTING CAMC'S SERVICES ON A HORE PERMANENT FOOTING, LE PROPOSE TO GIVE THEM A FURTHER MONTHS'S EXTENSION AS A TIDING- OVER MEASURE. THUS, THE NEW PERMIT VILL RUN UNTIL END-NOVEMBER AND WILL ENABLE CAAC CONTINUITY ON OPERATIONS, IN PARTICULAR AS REGARDS THE PLANNING OF SERVICES FOR CARRYING TRAFFIC TO AND FROM THE CANTON FAIR.
CARRINGTON
[COPIES
SENT
70
CADI DOT
FILES
MAED
HKJGD
FED
LEG. ADV
MISS BROWN
MRMURRAY
CONFIDENTIAL