CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 011/3
259
137554 MDHIAN 0229
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 11100OZ FCO
TELNO 1153
OF 110905Z APRIL 89
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
(257)
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
YOUR TELNO 809: FAC ENQUIRY: ADDITIONAL PAPERS: AIR SERVICES
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1 GIVEN THE DEADLINE FOR REPLY WE HAVE NOT HAD AS MUCH TIME TO
CONSIDER THE DRAFT PAPER AS FULLY AND AS CAREFULLY AS WE WOULD
HAVE WISHED. THAT SAID, APART FROM EDITORIAL POINTS, BUT BEARING IN MIND THAT THE PAPER WILL BECOME A PUBLIC DOCUMENT, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMMENTS AND RESERVATIONS ABOUT SEVERAL POINTS IN THE DRAFT PAPER, VIZ ·
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(A) WE WONDER WHETHER, HAVING ATTACHED SECTION IX OF ANNEX I TO THE JD, IT IS NECESSARY TO DESCRIBE THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO AIR SERVICES IN PARAS 3 AND 4.
(B) THE TWO HALVES OF PARA 8 APPEAR TO BE SOMEWHAT CONTRADICTORY.
ALSO WE THINK IT IS GOING TO FAR TO SAY THAT THERE ARE NOW
'GUARANTEES'' OF CONTINUITY THE THIRD SENTENCE SHOULD BE OMITTED, IF ONLY TO AVOID THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT MIGHT PROMPT SOME AVIATION PARTNERS TO SEEK ADVANTAGES FROM SEPARATION.
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(C) WHILE THERE MAY BE NO GREAT HARM IN DISCLOSING IN PARA 10 THE PROCEDURE WHEREBY THE CHINESE HAVE SIGHT OF AN INITIALLED ASA TEXT IT SEEMS UNNECESSARY TO GO INTO SUCH DETAIL. BETTER TO COVER THE POINT IN GENERAL TERMS AND RESPOND TO QUESTIONS IF NECESSARY.
(D) IT DOES NOT SEEM NECESSARY TO COMMENT IN THIS PAPER ON THE CHINESE AS NEGOTIATORS AND TO ANTICIPATE THE COUTCOME OF THE CURRENT ROUND OF TALKS. WE CONSIDER THEREFORE THAT THE SECOND HALF OF PARA 12 SHOULD BE OMITTED.
(E) WE DO NOT THINK THAT PARA 14 REALLY CONTRIBUTES ANYTHING TO A PAPER RELATED TO THE JD. IF THE FAC HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR HK/PRC AIR SERVICES, WE FEEL THEY CAN BETTER BE DEALT WITH ORALLY, ALTHOUGH WE WOULD NOT FEEL ENTIRELY COMPETENT TO EXPLAIN WHY SUCH ONE-SIDED ARRANGEMENTS FOR REGIONAL ROUTES WERE MADE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE UK/PRC NEGOTIATIONS IN JULY 1979.
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CONFIDENTIAL