RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
RESTRICTED
HKC181/17
RECEN
INL
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 3768
OF 19100OZ DECEMBER 190.
~ISTRY
0 2 JAN 1991
OISTRY
Action Taken
AND TO PRIORITY WELLINGTON, KUALA LUMPUR
INFO PRIORITY DTP (FOR IAD)
INFO ROUTINE SINGAPORE
DTP FOR IAD
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
6
030762
MDLIAN 5920
Ter in
Pa HK / New Zealand AA
/New се на/машина аза
C$27.2.
OUR TELNO 3679 AND YOUR 2401 : HONG KONG : AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT SEPARATION PROGRAMME
1. NOW THAT THE SPECIFIC AUTHORISATIONS FOR US TO SIGN THE ASAS WITH NEW ZEALAND AND MALAYSIA HAVE BEEN ISSUED, GRATEFUL IF WELLINGTON AND KUALA LUMPUR COULD BE AUTHORISED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO APPROACH THE MOT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES REGARDING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SIGNATURE WHICH, WE HOPE, CAN TAKE PLACE BEFORE JLG XVIII WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR W/C 11 MARCH 1991.
FOR NEW ZEALAND
2. PREVIOUS INFORMAL CONTACT WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS (BRIAN LYNCH, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT) SUGGESTS THAT THE NEW ZEALAND MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SIGNING THE ASA IN HONG KONG. WE SHOULD, THEREFORE, LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT HE COMES HERE DURING W/C 18 FEBRUARY OR, AS A FALLBACK, W/C 25 FEBRUARY. TO HELP FINALISE THE DATES FOR THE SIGNING CEREMONY OF THE HONG KONG/MALAYSIA ASA (SEE PARA 3 BELOW), WE WOULD APPRECIATE AN EARLY RESPONSE FROM THE NEW ZEALAND AUTHORITIES. WE SHALL SEPARATELY BE IN TOUCH WITH THE NEW ZEALAND COMMISSION HERE ON THE DETAILED ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS.
FOR KUALA LUMPUR
3. OUR PREFERENCE IS FOR THE SIGNING CEREMONY TO BE HELD IN KUALA LUMPUR IN THE HOPE THAT THE ATTENDANT PUBLICITY WILL GIVE FURTHER IMPETUS TO OUR ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER ASEAN COUNTRIES ESPECIALLY SINGAPORE. THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES (MRS ANSON CHAN), WHO WILL SIGN THE ASA ON BEHALF OF HKG, CAN TRAVEL TO KUALA LUMPUR DURING THE W/C 4 MARCH (E.G. OUT SUNDAY BACK TUESDAY) OR, IF IT IS NOT CONVENIENT, DURING EITHER OF THE TWO MENTIONED PERIODS NOT CHOSEN BY NEW ZEALAND.
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