221
GR 220
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 24010OZ
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 574 OF 23/7/79
CONFIDENTIAL
Sae (223)
FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN.
AKKI84/2 OPY
2 5 JUL1979
no 1825.7
HONG KONG TELNO 1037: UK/PRC AIR SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS
1. WE AND THE DOT WOULD BE VERY RELUCTANT TO AUTHORISE THE
DELEGATION TO CONCLUDE AN AGREEMENT COVERING REGIONAL SERVICES
WITHOUT YOUR CONCURRENCE. IN THE LIGHT OF THE STRONG ADVICE IN
HONG KONG TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE WE ARE INCLINED TO REITERATE
THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE DESIGNATION OF THE HONG KONG-BASED CARRIER
IN FCO TELNO 399 TO PEKING. BEFORE DOING SO, HOWEVER, WE SHOULD
BE GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT YOU ENDORSE THE LINE IN HONG
KONG TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE, AND IN PARTICULAR THE VIEW THAT THERE IS A REASONABLE CHANCE THAT A BETTER DEAL COULD BE OBTAINED
IF THIS QUESTION WERE DROPPED FROM THE AGREEMENT AND TAKEN UP LATER.
AS YOU KNOW, THE EMBASSY IN PEKING HAVE CONSISTENTLY TAKEN THE a) OPPOSITE VIEW, MOST RECENTLY IN PEKING TELNO 660.
2. PARAGRAPH 4(B) OF HONG KONG TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE WAS CLEARLY
DRAFTED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT CPA WILL SUCCEED IN THEIR APPLICATION
TO GET ON TO THE LONDON ROUTE. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANY NEW CARRIER WILL BE SELECTED FOR THIS ROUTE UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.
3. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR COMMENTS DESKBY 24083OZ.
CARRINGTON
FILES
HK & GD
MAED
FED
NEWS D
LEGAL ADVS MR CORTAZZI MISS BROWN
COPIES TO: DOT/CAD
CONFIDENTIAL