GPS 295
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 0499212 FEB
CONFIDENTIAL
TO A ORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 108 OF 4 FEBRUARY, 1980
INFO PRIORITY PEKING ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVT
нкіс
TOP COP
17311
RECEIVED IN REG.STRY NO. 51 07 FEB 1980
OFFICE LONDON
DESK INDEX
FA
HIGISTRY Action Taken
MY TELNO 164 AND PEKING TELNO 5 TO ME: THROUGINORA
RAIN SERVICE.
AW X2
1. NCNA TODAY TOLD THE POLITICAL ADVISER THAT ONE OF THEIR
DEPUTY DIRECTORS HAD GONE TO GUANGZHOU LAST WEEK TO SORT OUT
THE PROBLEM OF THE THROUGH TRAIN, NCNA HAD ARGUED STRONGLY THAT
THE SUDDEN POSTPONEMENT OF THE SECOND SERVICE WOULD CAUSE GREAT
DIFFICULTY FOR THOSE INTENDING TO VISIT CHINA DURING THE SPRING FESTIVAL. (SEPARATELY, WE UNDERSTAND THAT CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE (CTS) ARGUED SIMILARLY). AS A RESULT IT HAD BEEN AGREED THAT THE SECOND SERVICE WOULD BE REINSTATED BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR,
PROBABLY ON 10 OR 11 FEBRUARY. THERE WILL NOW BE FURTHER
DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO RAILWAY ADMINISTRATIONS TO FINALISE
DETAILS.
рее
6)
2. ACCORDING TO NCNA THE DIFFICULTY WAS DUE TO PROBLEMS BETWEEN
DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE BUREAUCRACY. THEY IMPLIED STRONGLY
THAT IMMIGRATION, CUSTOMS AND BORDER CONTROL HAD REFUSED TO CO-
OPERATE ON STARTING THE SERVICE ON 1 FEBRUARY.
}
3. P.A. TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REFER TO THE REQUEST FROM CTS
FOR HELP IN ARRANGING ADDITIONAL CHARTER FLIGHTS THROUGH CPA
(PCKING'S TUR). POINTING OUT THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF CHARTER
FLIGHTS FROM HONG KONG HAD ALREADY BEEN AGREED OVER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR PERIOD, HE SAID WE WANTED TO SEE SCHEDULED SERVICES, AS AGREED UNDER THE ASA, STARTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT CPA WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY IN ARRANGING FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH CAAC TO IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT AND THAT B.A. HAD BEEN HAVING SIMILAR DIFFICULTIES, HE HOPED THAT NONA WOULD DO WHAT THEY COULD TO GET DISCUSSIONS STARTED AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE, NONA UNDERTOOK TO REPORT.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & QD FED MAED
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MISS BROWN
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OF CE
LONDON