TNAG-0643-FCO40-791-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1977 — Page 102

GR 175

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 280958Z

CONFIDENTIAL

--4KK 184/3

3

CONFIDENTIAL

TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O TELNO.1209 OF 28 NOVEMBER.

PA

80

DTI TELNO.ALLOT 139: U.K/MALAYSIA AIR SERVICES.

1. MAS APPLICATION FOR WHAT THEY TERMED QUOTE EXTRA UNQUOTE 707

SERVICE ON 30 NOVEMBER AND CANCELLATION OF 737 SERVICE ON 29 NOVEMBER IS NOT GEARED TO A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AND APPEARS AT VARIANCE WITH ASA ARTICLE 5.

2. IN THIS CASE THE PUBLIC NEED IS COMPROMISED BY NON-AVAILABILITY OF THE FLIGHT ON 29 NOVEMBER, AND THE DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE CPA FLIGHT ON 30 NOVEMBER IS A SITUATION WE WOULD WISH TO HAVE AVOIDED, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THE PROBLEMS ALLEGED OVER FARE LEVELS. THE AIRCRAFT CONCERNED OVER-NIGHTS HONG KONG EVERY TUESDAY, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST OCCASION FOR A REQUEST OF THIS NATURE. WE HOPE THE REQUESTS WILL NOT BECOME A REGULAR FEATURE, AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE MAS MAY WELL HAVE EQUIPMENT DIFFICULTIES FOR THE FLIGHT SCHEDULED FOR 29 NOVEMBER (ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT BEEN ADVISED OF THIS).

3. IN THIS INSTANCE WE ARE PREPARED RELUCTANTLY TO AGREE TO THE

MAS SUBSTITUTION AND DATE CHANGE.

ROBERTS

FILES

MAED HReGD

MR BUTER

OPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT

CONFIDENTIAL

LACI

61

(80)

87