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that on CPA. Beyond CPA's extra weekly service from December 1980 and BCal's from April 1981, neither made any com- mitment to future expansion though Mr. Bluck for CPA said they would go to a daily service, if traffic warranted, before the end of 1981. We accept that a daily service offers a considerable advantage and believe both CPA and BCal will provide it if at all economically possible.
39.
The Authority is also of the opinion that no evidence has been produced to show that its 1979 decision was wrong in principle and must therefore consider whether circumstances i.e. the increase in traffic and the Secretary of State's decision, have so
changed that it should now license Laker. It is satisfied that is not the case. There has been an increase
in traffic but it is still much too early to see
if that increase continues.
If the traffic demand goes up even further so that the existing carriers cannot, or for some reason will not, satisfy that demand that would be a totally different circumstance and one which would allow the Authority to look sympathetically on a fresh application from Laker. The same consideration would apply if the existing airlines raised fares to an unjustified extent. In the meantime however the Authority feels that the existing licensees should be allowed to expand to the limit of those licences, provided they do so in a responsible manner in relation to demand from the public, including tour operators in particular.
40.
It was suggested by Counsel for Laker in his closing submission that if the Authority did not find itself able to support the views of the Hong Kong Govern- ment because of the wording of its Regulations, those Regulations would be soon changed. If the Hong Kong Government does indeed now favour de-regulation that can no doubt be done but as those Regulations now stand