CONFIDENTIAL
p.a. 181/15.
017663
MDLIAN 7195
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 1692
OF 010519Z NOVEMBER 1933
INFO ROUTINE DEPT OF TRADE, RANGOON, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
DOT (FOR IAD)
10
OUR TELNO 1480: HONG KONG/BURMA ASA
SUMMARY
1.
SECOND ROUND OF ASA SEPARATION TALKS AS ENVISAGED IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF TUR TOOK PLACE IN HONG KONG ON 26 TO 27 OCTOBER AND ENDED CONCLUSIVELY. A HONG KONG/BURMA ASA TEXT WAS INITIALLED AND THE ACCOMPANYING CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SIGNED.
DETAIL
2. THE BURMESE DELEGATION WAS, AS EXPECTED, WELL PREPARED FOR THIS SECOND ROUND OF TALKS. AFTER THE LAST ROUND OF CONSULTATIONS ONLY TWO ARTICLES OF THE DRAFT HONG KONG/BURMA ASA TEXT (I.E. TARIFFS AND CUSTOM DUTIES) WERE STILL LEFT OUTSTANDING. THE BURMESE DELEGATION INDICATED THAT AFTER STUDYING OUR DRAFT TEXTS THEY SAW NO OBJECTION TO THE TWO ARTICLES, THUS SPEEDILY CONCLUDED OUR DISCUSSIONS ON THE ASA TEXT.
3. THE NEGOTIATIONS THEN CONCENTRATED ON THE EXCHANGE OF TRAFFIC RIGHTS INCLUDING ROUTEING AND CAPACITY TO CATER FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE AIRLINES OF BOTH SIDES (I.E. MYANMAR AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL AND HONG KONG DRAGON AIRLINES). THE ROUTEING FINALLY AGREED PROVIDES FOR BOTH SIDES TO OPERATE WITH INTERMEDIATE POINTS IN COMBINATION, BUT NO POINTS BEYOND ARE ALLOWED DUE TO HONG KONG'S CURRENT ''NO BLINDED BEYOND'' POLICY. THE TWO SIDES THEN INITIALLED THE ASA TEXT AND SIGNED THE CMU. THE BURMESE ARE AWARE
THEY OF THE PROCEDURES THAT WE NEED TO TAKE WITH THE CHINESE. INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD ALSO NEED THE APPROVAL OF THEIR 'HIGHER AUTHORITIES'' TO SIGN THE ASA. THEY NEVERTHELESS WERE IN A POSITION TO SIGN THE CMU WHICH WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ON AN ADMINISTRATIVE BASIS PENDING FORMAL ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE ASA.
4. A DRAFT ''NOTE OF DIFFERENCES'' WILL BE PREPARED AND FAXED OVER
SUBJECT TO YOUR TOGETHER WITH THE INITIALLED ASA TEXT SHORTLY.
APPROVAL, UKREP JLG COULD THEN PASS THEM OVER TO THE CHINESE SIDE FOR CONSIDERATION.
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RECE
HOWRY
FOX 1993
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on Taken