TNAG-0643-FCO40-791-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1977 — Page 127

CONFIDENTIAL

2. I AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT DEFENSIVE BRIEFING BE PROVIDED FOR BOTH MINISTERIAL VISITS. IT IS TRUE THAT

THE VICE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR AVIATION BUT CLEARLY IN THE DISCUSSIONS WHICH I HAD LATE

THIS YEAR WITH THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS BUREAU OF THE MINISTRY

OF COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE SHIPPING AGREEMENT THAT THEY WERE FULLY AWARE OF THE POSITION ON THE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT. IT MIGHT THEREFORE PROVE USEFUL TO BRING IN A REFERENCE TO

THE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT TANGENTIALLY IN ANY DISCUSSION OF THE SHIPPING AGREEMENT: THE VICE MINISTER MIGHT MAKE SOME REVEALING COMMENT6:

3.

INCIDENTALLY DID ANYTHING OF INTEREST IN THIS CONTEXT

COME OF TENCH'S DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE IN THE SPRING (SEE MINUTE DATED 13 APRIL 1977 BY LELLO AS/CAIR 1, COPIED TO MARITIME AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT FCO).

YOUDE

FILES

FED

HK & GD MAED

MR CORTAZZI

MR BURROWS

COPIES TO CAIR/1A DOT

SHELL MEX HOUSE

MR GRAHAM

SHIPPING POLICY DIVN DOT ADELPHI

2

CONFIDENTIAL