CONFIDENTIAL
GR 250
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 260955Z JUL 82
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 811 OF 26 JULY
YOUR TELNO 567: HONG KONG/NAURU AIR SERVICES
TO ALLOW AIR NAURU TO SUSTAIN THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMES ON ITS AIRCRAFT, DCA NAURU HAS REQUESTED APPROVAL FOR THE AIRLINE TO OPERATE PRIVATE FLIGHTS FROM MANILA AND TAIPEI TO HONG KONG UNTIL
A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION TO THE MATTER HAS BEEN FOUND.
2. WE NOTE THAT NAURU IS A PARTY TO IASTA. REGULATION 3 (WHICH
PROVIDES FOR THE NEED TO HAVE A PERMIT TO CARRY PASSENGERS FOR HIRE OR REWARD ON A SCHEDULED JOURNEY TO HONG KONG) OF THE AIR TRANSPORT (LICENSING OF AIR SERVICES) REGULATIONS DOES NOT, THEREFORE, APPLY, IF THE AIRCRAFT ARE SIMPLY TO BE FERRIED BETWEEN HONG KONG AND TAIPEI OR MANILA. WE DO NOT SEEM TO BE IN A POSITION TO DENY OPERATIONS ON THIS BASIS, BUT OUR CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY REMAINS, WHETHER AN AIRCRAFT OPERATES WITH OR WITHOUT TRAFFIC. AN ADDED COMPLICATION IS THAT AN AIR NAURU AIRCRAFT IS AT PRESENT UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE AT HAECO.
3. WE SHALL PUT TO DCA NAURU THAT THE AIRCRAFT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE, BUT WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD ADVISE ON WHAT SANCTIONS, IF ANY, MAY BE THREATENED TO PREVENT WHAT WE SEE AS POTENTIALLY UNSAFE OPERATIONS. MEANWHILE, DCA NAURU IS SEEKING AN EARLY MEETING WITH DCA HONG KONG TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM.
YOU WILL WISH TO KNOW THAT THE FLIGHT SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE THIS MORNING DID NOT ARRIVE. THE NEXT SCHEDULED ARRIVAL IS 2145L ON 29 JULY.
YOUDE
LIMITED
MAED
[COPIES SENT TO CAIR/DOT]
SPD
HK & GD
MR EVANS
CONFIDENTIAL
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