GRS 200
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DESKBY 14103OZ PEKING
RESTRICTED
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FM HONG KONG 14094OZ DEC 84
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1424 OF 14 DECEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO
PA
..RY
Action Taken
MAY
8
32€
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT: SPECIAL CHARTER FLIGHT OR HONG KONG
OBSERVERS.
(331
1. DURING THE COVERSATIONS WITH NCNA REPORTED IN MY TELS NOS 3774 TO
ECO AND 1417 TO YOU, NCNA INDICATED THAT THE DEPARTURE TIME FOR
THE SPECIAL FLIGHT WAS 0910, (1.E. 10 MINUTES AFTER THE PM'S PLANE
DEPARTS). WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A WAY OF ENSURING THAT THE
UMELCO MEMBERS CAN BE TRANSPORTED FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE UMELCO
OFFICES IN TIME FOR THE UMELCO LUNCH, AND HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THIS
WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH AN 0910 DEPARTURE. IT CAN ONLY BE DONE IF
THE SPECIAL FLIGHT ARRIVES AT KAI TAK BEFORE REPEAT BEFORE THE
PRIME MINISTER'S VC10.
2. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM TO THE MFA AND CAAC, AND ASK THEM TO ARRANGE FOR THE SPECIAL FLIGHT DEPART HALF AN HOUR BEFORE THE PRIME MINISTER'S PLANE. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A REGULAR PEKING/HONG KONG FLIGHT THAT DAY, SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE AT 11.40, THIS WOULD NOT (NOT) BE A SATISFACTORY ALTERNATIVE, GIVEN THE NOTORIOUS SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CAAC FLIGHTS TO DELAY, PARTICULARLY
IN THE WINTER.
3. WE ARE TAKING PARALLEL ACTION WITH NCNA.
YOUDE
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MR WILSON
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SIR P CRADOCK (2)