XN000022-1975-06-04 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1975.

GOVERNMENT WON'T INTERFERE WITH

AIRLINES' LUXURY LOUNGES

*******

THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PLANS TO STOP AIRLINES FROM LIMITING THEIR RENTED FIRST CLASS LOUNGES AT THE AIRPORT TO PASSENGERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF INTERNATIONAL CLUBS SPONSORED BY AIRLINES.

THIS PRACTICE WAS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE AIRLINES' OPERATING PERMITS ISSUED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, TOLD COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. P.G. WILLIAMS.

MR. ROBSON SAID EVERY AIRLINE OPERATING INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS THROUGH HONG KONG DID SO AS A DESIGNATED CARRIER UNDER A BILATERAL AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AND THE RELEVANT FOREIGN GOVERNMENT.

THESE AGREEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHICAGO CONVENTION AND TO RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (I.A.T.A.).

AIRLINES WHICH ARE MEMBERS OF 1.A.T.A., HE SAID, MUST COMPLY WITH ITS RESOLUTIONS GOVERNING COMMERCIAL PRACTICES AND A GOVERNMENT MAY DIRECT THAT NON-I.A.T.A. AIRLINES WILL ALSO CONFORM TO ITS RESOLUTIONS WITH REGARD TO OPERATIONS TO OR FROM THAT GOVERNMENT'S COUNTRY.

MR. ROBSON POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING IN THESE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS NOR IN THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHICAGO CONVENTION AND THE 1.A.T.A. RESOLUTIONS TO PRECLUDE AN AIRLINE FROM OPERATING HOSPITALITY LOUNGES.

+THERE IS ALSO NOTHING TO PRECLUDE AIRLINES OPERATING 'INTERNATIONAL CLUBS' WHICH ENTITLE THEIR MEMBERS TO USE THE AIRLINES' HOSPITALITY LOUNGES - MEMBERS BEING EITHER LONG- STANDING OR COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT CUSTOMERS OF THE AIRLINE CONCERNED, HE SAID.

MR. ROBSON ADDED THAT HOSPITALITY LOUNGES WERE NOT ALWAYS PROVIDED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CLUB MEMBERS AND IN MANY CASES THEY WERE ALSO OPEN TO ANY PASSENGER TO WHO THE AIRLINE WISHED TO ACCORD FAVOURABLE TREATMENT.

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