UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1958
OF 05170OZ NOVEMBER 91
INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON, ACTOR
HKB 062/2
(26
135327
MDHOAN 4163
'm
YOUR TELNO 3272: AVIATION SECURITY: VISIT BY FAA DELEGATION TO
ΚΑΙ ΤΑΚ
·
1 THE FAA HAS NO AUTHORITY TO INSPECT, AS A MATTER OF RIGHT, OVERALL SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS IN HONG KONG OR IN ANY OTHER
DEPENDENT TERRITORY. THEY MAY BE PERMITTED TO INSPECT AVIATION SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS IN RESPECT OF US CARRIERS' OPERATIONS, AND THERE IS A CONVENTION THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK HMG'S AGREEMENT BEFORE DOING SO. THEY APPEAR TO HAVE OMITTED TO COMPLY ON THIS OCCASION. IN THE PAST, WE HAVE USED SUCH REQUESTS FOR AGREEMENT AS OPPORTUNITIES TO REMIND THE FAA OF THE PARAMETERS WITHIN WHICH THEY MAY INSPECT, AS SET OUT ABOVE (IT MAY BE THAT, IN THIS CASE, THE FAA SOUGHT THE AGREEMENT OF THE HONG KONG GOVENMENT DIRECT.
IF SO YOU WILL WISH TO CONSIDER GIVING THE SAME REMINDER TO THEM)
2. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN TO GUARD AGAINST ANY INFRINGEMENT OF HKG'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR CIVIL AVIATION, WHICH WILL APPEAR TO CONTRAVENE ANNEX 17 TO THE CHICAGO CONVENTION. ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AVIATION SECURITY STANDARDS IN HONG KONG RESTS OF COURSE WITH HMG, AND IT IS THEREFORE FOR HMG RATHER THAN THE FAA TO DECIDE WHETHER HONG KONG'S PROGRAMME IS SATISFACTORY OR NOT.
3. ON THE QUESTION OF THE FAA INSPECTING NON-US AIRLINES WITH HONG KONG AS THEIR LAST POINT OF DEPARTURE INTO THE US, THE ADVICE CONTAINED IN HARRIS'S (DTP) LETTER OF 20 JUNE 1989 TO, AMONG OTHERS, ALL AIRLINES OF DEPENDENT TERRITORIES FLYING TO THE US, STILL HOLDS GOOD. AIRLINES WHO ARE APPROACHED BY THE FAA SHOULD RESPOND TO THE EFFECT THAT THE DTP SETS OUT IN THE NATIONAL AVIATION SECURITY PROGRAMME THE SECURITY MEASURES THAT ARE TO APPLY TO ALL FLIGHTS FROM UK AIRPORTS AND FROM THOSE IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES AND THE FAA SHOULD REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES.
HURD
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