A
18
B
12/
A (18
C
13
A18
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51
14 MAR 1974
HKK 21/10.
Mr Stuart
Mr Youde
CONFIDENTIAL
HKIOD
1. Goodfellas 7/22
ttan PIA RO 12.11.
I heart ated, or send thoughts,
about waiting formally
object
rn
an this: and the
Las
beer acheived in that the latest D.T.I tel has gone
HONG KONG : WIDE BODIED AIRCRAFT FOR CPA
to the tracke Commenines
1. In reference to paragraph 2 of Hong Kong telegram no 248 r
has asked what it is incoming Ministers are going to consider.
2. The telegram refers back to DTI telegram no Allot 24 which we had
not previously seen. The latter concerns discussions between
Mr Adrian Swire and Mr John Browne of CPA on the one hand and
Mr Warrington and Mr Rogers of the DTI on the other. Paragraph 5
deals with the timing of fresh decision by the CPA Board on their
aircraft purchases which had originally been set as the end of
February, ie a months "respite" from the original date of 31 January.
Mr Warrington and Mr Rogers pointed out that a decision by the CPA
Board before 1 March would mean the incoming Government were faced
with "an extremely awkward fait accompli". They therefore urged
that the decision be held open for a further week. In the event
the CPA Board have deferred signing a Letter of Intent until 18 March
(Hong Kong telegram no 248).
after att brom selling
3
3. DTI Air Division, Mr Warrington and CA2 Mr Rogers have taken
action on this subject mainly without consultation either with
ourselves or DTI CRE2. We have objected at Counsellor/Assistant
Secretary level (Mr Hitch to Mr Knighton) to the DTI sending telegrams
to the Governor direct on what is/a political question without clearing
these telegrams with the FCO. We have been somewhat inhibited from
objecting too strongly since the Hong Kong Government have responded
quickly and without objections to all the DTI requests. Nonetheless,
there are obvious dangers in DTI acting without prior reference to the
FCO.
4. It is not clear from DTI telegram no Allot 24 what decision
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Warrington
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.