CONFIDENTIAL
SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH SIR ADRIAN SWIRE,
19 FEBRUARY
Points to Make
Aircraft Orders
-
Have seen your correspondence with PM. Greatly appreciate your commitment to UK manufacturers in particular
Rolls-Royce. Any news on purchase of B-777's with Rolls Royce engines?
Air Services Agreement (ASAS)
-
Know you are keen for progress on this. So are we. Principal problem remains third country airlines using Taiwan as point on their services to Hong Kong.
- We have emphasised to the Chinese the economic/investment implications, and the real dangers for Hong Kong if the uncertainty on this issue continues. Grateful for anything you can do to reinforce this in your contacts in Peking.
- In his meeting with the Chinese Premier in New York, the
Prime Minister urged that progress in JLG be speeded up.
Qian Qichen's visit (9-10 March) a chance to give the ASA issue a political push.
- To prepare the ground, we will be having informal talks with Chinese in JLG soon. Have seen some signs of Chinese interest in making progress. A high priority for the Qian
visit.
TIMABZ/1
TG
CONFIDENTIAL