CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT OF LORD CAITHNESS TO JAPAN 13-16 FEBRUARY
AIR SERVICES: LINE TO TAKE
1.
We very much hope that the Japanese Government will soon
be in a position to negotiate a separate Hong Kong-Japan Air Service Agreement. The establishment of a separate air service agreement not only gives expression to the autonomy in these areas guaranteed to Hong Kong by the Joint
Declaration, it also enables airlines to plan with
confidence about the future. This is particularly important given the large investment required by the establishment of
a new airport.
2. I understand that the Japanese Government has recently
received commitments from the Chinese Government of its
support for the separation process.
WEDADS/1