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SINGAPORE AIRSPACE INDUSTRIES (SAI)
1. THE CHAIRMAN OF SWIRES, DAVID GLEDHIL, HAS TOLD ME ABOUT EFFORTS BY SINGAPORE AIRSPACE INDUSTRIES (SAI) TO RECRUIT A LARGE NUMBER OF STAFF FROM THE HONG KONG AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING COMPANY (HAECO) WHICH LOOKS AFTER THE CATHAY PACIFIC FLEET. EARLIER THIS YEAR, SAI RECRUITED 25 HAECO STAFF, INCLUDING THE CHIEF ENGINEER, TO HEAD UP THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR B747 SECTION 41 MODIFICATION PROGRAMME. SWIRES HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO RECRUIT A FURTHER 30-40 HAECO STAFF.
2. I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE SINGAPORE COMMISSIONER ABOUT THIS. (GLADHILL HIMSELF HAS ALSO WRITTEN TO THE COMMISSIONER WHO HAS FORWARDED HIS LETTER TO SINGAPORE). THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN A GENERALLY HELPFUL ATTITUDE IN ITS OWN IMMIGRATION SCHEMES FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE, INSOFAR AS THESE HAVE ALLOWED MANY OF THOSE WHO QUALIFY TO DELAY THEIR DEPARTURE TO SINGAPORE. SAI'S CAMPAIGN, AIMED AT TAKING A LARGE NUMBER OF HIGHLY SKILLED PEOPLE FROM ONE COMPANY IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD, SITS ILL WITH THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE. I HAVE SAID TO THE COMMISSIONER THAT ANYTHING WHICH HIS GOVERNMENT FEELS ABLE TO DO TO PERSUADE SAI TO AIM THEIR RECRUITING A LITTLE LESS HEAVILY AT HONG KONG, AND TO SPREAD IT OUT OVER TIME, WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
3. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF SIR M PIKE COULD FIND A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SUPPORTING ACTION IN SINGAPORE.
WILSON
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