RESTRICTED
HKC 181/8
2
116220
MDLOAN 6644
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
9 JO1993
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELNO 78
OF 281201Z JANUARY 93
INFO ROUTINE BANGKOK
Mur/ then
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
BANGKOK TELNO 001: /AIR SERVICES: HONG KONG SEPARATION
1. The clear hints that Roungroj has been dropping since last November (Bangkok telno 784) about possible Linkage between ASA separation and the trunk route are at odds with his earlier agreement to deal with those issues separately (Bangkok telnos 17 and 18 of January 92).
2. Irritating as that is, we want to avoid being drawn at this stage into a debate which may lead to Thai insistence on formal discussion at a single round of talks of both subjects and of the question of any linkage between them. That is a prospect which for tactical and logistical reasons we, and no doubt you, would not find attractive.
3. We consider therefore that Roungroj's hints should simply be ignored for now and that you should press on with ASA separation as far and as fast as you can. We leave it to you to Liaise with Bangkok in proposing suitable dates to the Thais for such talks from April onwards.
4.
For Bangkok: separate instructions follow for possible resumption of trunk route talks.
HURD
YYYY
MAIN
44
.AIR SERVICES
AMD
LEGAL ADVISERS
DISTRIBUTION
51
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD PS/PUS
MR CROWE
PAGE
1
RESTRICTED