CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 479
OF 19060OZ FEBRUARY 92
CONFIDENTIAL
HKC 181/19
TOP COPY
см
Q DIST? pa.
INFO ROUTINE DTP, PEKING, STOCKHOLM, COPENHAGEN, OSLO
INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
DTP FOR IAD
91/HKC 181
181/18
22
3022
127166
MDLIAN 5283
OUR TELNO 3022 OF 1991: HONG KONG/SCANDINAVIA ASA NEGOTIATIONS
1. THE THIRD ROUND OF TALKS WITH THE SCANDINAVIANS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR 9-10 MARCH IN STOCKHOLM.
2. FURTHER TO THE LAST ROUND OF TALKS WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS WITH SELEN, LEADER OF THE SCANDINAVIAN DELEGATION. IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE NOW PREPARED TO CONCEDE ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, SUCH AS CAPACITY FORMULA AND BEYOND POINTS FOR HONG KONG, WHICH WERE STICKING POINTS DURING THE PREVIOUS NEGOTIATIONS. THERE IS THEREFORE A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT WE CAN RESOLVE ALL OUTSTANDING POINTS AT THE COMING ROUND.
3. ASSUMING THAT WE DO MANAGE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT, IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT OFF INITIALLING A DRAFT AGREEMENT WITHOUT INCURRING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO OUR CREDIBILITY AS A NEGOTIATING PARTNER. IF WE DO INITIAL, THIS POSES THE QUESTION OF WHETHER, AND IF SO WHEN, WE SHOULD HAND OVER THE TEXT TO THE CHINESE SIDE. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE HK/SCANDINAVIA NEGOTIATION IS ONE WHICH WE HAVE COMMENCED WITHOUT EXPLICIT AGREEMENT BY THE CHINESE.
4
10
WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH UK REP JLG. OUR AGREED VIEW IS THAT WHEREAS WE SHOULD NOT HOLD BACK INITIALLING OF THE AGREEMENT, WE SHOULD HOLD ON TO THE INITIALLED TEXT FOR A WHILE BEFORE HANDING IT OVER TO THE CHINESE. THE TIMING FOR THIS WILL VERY MUCH DEPEND ON THE PROGRESS OF A SOLUTION TO THE OVERALL ASA PROBLEM. THE SCANDINAVIANS ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE PROCEDURES THAT WE NEED TO TAKE WITH THE CHINESE AND THAT IT MIGHT TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE THE INITIALLED TEXT IS READY FOR SIGNATURE. IN THE MEANTIME AIRLINE OPERATIONS WOULD BE PERMITTED ON A PROVISIONAL BASIS. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, SUBJECT TO CONCLUSION OF AN ASA, SAS ARE PLANNING TO OPERATE TO HONG KONG FROM JUNE 1992.
5. WE SHALL KEEP YOU POSTED OF THE OUTCOME OF OUR NEGOTIATIONS.
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