For Immediate Release
商
App. 7
Анчех її
British Government Stand Lamented
The decision by the British Civil Aviation Authority not to license
Cathay Pacific Airways for the London-Hongkong route was described as
"lamentable" yesterday by the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong.
A spokesman for the Association pointed out that so much had been talked
about buying British by Hong Kong, and although Hong Kong had in the past few
years made significant efforts to improve the export performance of Britain
in Hong Kong, it was regrettable that the British government could not allow
a Hong Kong based airline to provide more services on the London-Hong Kong
route. He referred to the history of Hong Kong's relationship with Britain
in the textile and clothing trade, where the British government had from
time to time failed to take into account Hong Kong's interests because of
political pressure at home and self-interest. However, the British Civil
Aviation Authority's decision to reject Cathay Pacific Airway's application
raised suspicions once again how much Hong Kong's interest actually weighed
in overall British policy. This was particularly depressing when the Hong
Kong Air Transport Licensing Authority had already decided to license
Cathay Pacific Airway for the route.
The Association pointed out that it had been said again and again that
the relationship between Britain and Hong Kong was special, and Hong Kong
was constitutionally subjected to Britain. Given this relationship, it
remained to be seen how Hong Kong's interests were reasonably taken care of,
and the views of the Hong Kong community accepted. Thus, if this special
relationship was recognized, it would be difficult to understand why Hong
Kong had to pay the cost of the British garrisons stationed here and the