CONFIDENTIAL
046454
MDHIAN 4849
WITH NEGOTIATIONS BUT HOPED THAT THE CHINESE STUDY WOULD BE COMPLETED SOON.
6.
THE HONG KONG/CANADA ASA WAS PUBLISHED ON 11 NOVEMBER IN THE HONG KONG GAZETTE. A COPY WAS HANDED OVER TO CHINESE SIDE ON 18 NOVEMBER. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD REGISTER THE AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE ICAO.
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OUTSTANDING MATTERS RELATING TO A DRAFT HONG KONG/FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY ASA WERE BEING PURSUED THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE. FURTHER DOWN THE LINE THERE HAD BEEN MORE EXCHANGES WITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ASA'S WITH THOSE TWO COUNTRIES.
8.
IN THE COMING MONTHS THE BRITISH HOPED TO PURSUE DISCUSSION ON THE SEPARATION OF ASAS WITHIN THE LIST OF 24 WITH OTHER AVIATION PARTNERS. IF ANY OF THESE PARTNERS RAISED THE QUESTION OF SEPAR- ATION WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF THE
CHINESE SIDE WOULD CONTINUE TO ASSURE THEM OF THEIR FULL SUPPORT FOR THE PROCESS OF SEPARATING HONG KONG'S ASAS FROM THOSE OF THE UK.
9.
I THEN REFERRED TO KE'S STATEMENT AT THE INTERPLENARY ABOUT ASA'S OUTSIDE THE LIST OF 24. THE BRITISH SIDE HAD CONSIDERED THIS STATEMENT VERY CAREFULLY. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE CONFIDENCE OF CIVIL AVIATION PARTNERS THAT ALL ASAS SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN MORE OR LESS THE SAME WAY. WE HAD ALREADY SAID THAT WE WOULD INFORM THE CHINESE SIDE WHEN NEGOTIATION OF AN ASA OUTSIDE THE LIST OF 24 WAS TO BEGIN. BE BELIEVED THAT THIS WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE CHINESE SIDE'S CONCERNS IN MOST CASES. BUT WE RECOGNISED THA THERE COULD BE A LIMITED NUMBER OF CASES WHICH MIGHT CAUSE DIFFICULTIES FOR THE CHINESE SIDE.
10.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE IMAGINED THAT THE NEGOTIATION OF AN ASA WITH SOUTH KOREA OR SOUTH AFRICA, BOTH OF WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN THE ORGINAL LIST OF 24, COULD CAUSE DIFFICULTIES. AND THAT ISRAEL, WHICH WAS NOT IN THE LIST OF 24, COULD DO SO TOO. WE APPRECIATED THAT THE NEGOTIATION AND CONCLUSION OF AN ASA WITH A COUNTRY OR REGION WHICH THE PRC DID NOT RECOGNISE COULD GIVE RISE TO SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE CHINESE SIDE. WE AGREED THAT PRIOR CONSULTATION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IN SUCH CASES. THAT CONSULTATION WOULD NEED TO COVER THE FORM OF THE ARRANGEMENT.
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