CO537-4847 — Page 37

SECRET

III. Civil Aviation (Continued).

The Communists may demand that C.N.A.C. cease all operations into and out of

Hong Kong connecting with Formosa and other K.M.T. -held outposts.

(a) Commurists may be extreme-

ly difficult over British aircraft flying over Chinese territory on present routes (e.g. over Hainan on the way to Singapore and Bangkok, or on the approaches to Hong Kong).

(e) The Communists may detain or confiscate British aircraft which make forced or emergency landings in Chinese Ter- ritory.

(f) The Deep Bay airport

scheme may be denounced, both as inhuman because villagers will be evicted, and as a pro- vocative imperialist measure designed for military aggression against China.

No action to restrict C.N.4.C. (or other Chinese airlines) need be taken while H.M.G. still recognises the Nationalist Govt. When and if a new Chinese Govt. is recognised, C.N.A.C. can theoretically no longer be allowed to operate lines under the Sino-British Air Agreement. They should therefore be instructed to suspend operations unless it is H.M.G.'s policy not to deprive the Nationalists of all indirect aid. In any event C.N.A.C. are likely to withdraw from Hong Kong should they see that re- cognition of the Communists by H.M.G. is imminent.

It will be necessary to obtain through whatever diplomatic channel is possible at a very early stage guarantees or assurances from the Communists that 'planes on regular peaceful flights on regular routes should not be shot at. Reciprocally Hong Kong should adopt a strong attitude towards Chinese 'planes overflying the Colony and make it clear that this will not be tolerated. The re are in any case no direct air routes making it necessary for Chinese planes to overfly Hong Kong.

At an early stage, as soon as inform- al or formal relations with the Communist authorities have been established, guarantees should be sought that British civil aircraft flying to Hong Kong on regular routes can land without being fired upon, and without being detained any. longer than necessary, if obliged to land in Chinese territory owing to bad weather or accident.

Hong Kong for its part could declare that Chinese planes could land at Hong Kong in emergency.

The principle of compensation and/ or resettlement have already been announced, and the H.K. Publicity must stress this. Also emphasis must be placed on the purely civil aviation aspect of the scheme, and the danger of Kai Tak airfield in bad weather stressed. Charges of aggressive imperialism a re best ignored.