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BUT THERE MUST BE THE POSSIBILITY OF NO CHAIRMAN UNTIL ABOUT
SEPTEMBER.
4 -
THE MOST URGENT IMMEDIATE DECISION FACING CAM IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING. STANLEY HO HAS APPEALED PUBLICLY (SCMP 28 MAY) FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT, A SIGN OF SOME DESPERATION. SEPARATELY EDMUND HO (WHO ALSO HAS A SHARE IN CAM) TOLD GRAHAM AND SAINTY THAT HE WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT JARDINE AIRWAYS WOULD TAKE A SHARE IN THE AIRPORT, ESSENTIALLY ON THE BASIS THAT THEY WOULD WIN PASSENGER AND BAGGAGE HANDLING CONTRACTS. THIS HAS BEEN A PET IDEA OF EDMUND HO'S FOR SOME TIME, BECAUSE HE BELIEVES THAT OTHERWISE THE PORTUGUESE WOULD ALLOCATE THEMSELVES THESE CONTRACTS, WHICH THEY WOULD FULFIL INCOMPETENTLY (AND BESIDES HE WOULD NOT BE IN JOINT VENTURE WITH THEM).
5.
MEANWHILE THE GOVERNMENT AIRPORT OFFICE HAS BEEN TRANSMOGRIFIED INTO A CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (CAA) AND ITS DIRECTOR, GUIMAREAS, BECOMES CAA DIRECTOR. HE HAS (TO OUR KNOWLEDGE) LITTLE OR NO AVIATION EXPERIENCE BUT NOW HAS HALF A DOZEN NEW PORTUGUESE EXPERTS, INCLUDING A LAWYER, TO HELP HIM. THE TALKS WITH THE USA ON AIR SERVICES MUST BY NOW HAVE BEEN HELD
AND WE WILL TRY TO FIND OUT MORE SOON.
6. CURRENT OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS THEREFORE ARE WHO THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS AS CHAIRMAN, AND WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT FUNDING, CONTRACTS, AIR SERVICE AGREEMENTS AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. NONE
OF THESE WILL BE EASY.
SMITH-LAITTAN
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