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British Embassy Tokyo
©
27 July 1993
Martin Glass Esq
Air Services Negotiation Unit Economic Services
Hong Kong Government
(by fax)
RECEIV
181/22.
AOL 1993
DFSK C INDEX
DA
NCISTRY action Taken
Dear Martin,
No. 1 Ichiban-cho
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102
Telephone: 3265-5511
Telex: 22755 (a/b PRODROME J22755)
Facsimile: (03) 5275-8164
on.
My moslati Mr bype f... J2017
28/7
HONG KONG/JAPAN ASA SEPARATION
1.
Thank you for your letter of 4 June (received here by bag). I am sorry that the G7 Summit and the Japanese elections have prevented me from getting back to you sooner.
2. Prior to receipt of your letter, I had already spoken to Tarui, Head of the MFA's China Division, about the need to avoid further slippage in the ASA separation talks. Tarui said that he entirely agreed and had been urging the Ministry of Transport to get on with the next round of talks as soon as possible. Orita, the Consul General in Hong Kong, had also been doing his best to exert pressure.
3.
On 26 July I went through the arguments in detail with Doi, Deputy Director General of the Civil Aviation Bureau in the Ministry of Transport, leaving a speaking note based on the points in your letter. Harunari from the International Air Transport Division was also present. When I had completed my presentation, Doi explained that he had been holding a series of talks with the Japanese airlines about the economic aspects of an ASA separation agreement. The Hong Kong route was very important to Japanese airlines, particularly in the current recession, and they needed to consider carefully how their economic interests would be affected. These consultations with the airlines were likely to be concluded in August. When I pressed Doi on whether the next round of air separation talks could therefore go aheadoin September, he said that once discussions with the airlines had been concluded the Ministry of Transport would still need to coordinate their position with the MFA. This might take another month or so. Realistically the Japanese side was therefore more likely to be ready for the next round of talks in October or November.
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