TNAG-0643-FCO40-791-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1977 — Page 13

GR 150

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

FM HONG KONG 230845Z

CONFIDENTIAL-

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 180/3

WETU NEUSTRY HO. SI

JAN 178

INDEX

PA

TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 1298 OF 23 DECEMBER 1977

INFO SINGAPORE

FOR D O T.

UK/SINGAPORE AIR SERVICES.

YOUR TELNO ALLOT 152 OF 21 DECEMBER.

T

WE NOTE WITH SOME SATISFACTION THE ACCOUNT OF ROGER'S INTERVIEW WITH LIM AND ARE IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY ROGERS. AS REGARDS YOUR PAR 7, IT IS AGREED THAT THE POSITION WAS AS, DESCRIBED DURING DISCUSSIONS IN HONG KONG AND WE APPRECIATE THE POINT OF VIEW EXPRESSED WITH REGARD TO BRITISH AIRWAYS' SERVICES. HOWEVER CPA ADVISE THAT THERE ARE STRONG INDICATIONS OF BA'S INTENTION TO CEASE OPERATING SINGAPORE-PERTH AND INSTEAD TO ROUTE THEIR AIRCRAFT DIRECT FROM BOMBAY TO PERTH. IF THIS INFORMATION PROVES CORRECT, AND BEARING IN MIND THE DIFFICULTIES WITH JAKARTA WHICH HAVE JUST ARISEN, THERE MAY WELL BE MERIT IN SEEKING THE SINGAPORE-PERTH RIGHTS FOR CPA. CPA FEEL THAT IN VIEW OF THEIR EXCELLENT RELATIONS WITH QANTAS, AUSTRALIA MAY NOT PROVE AS DIFFICULT AS WE HAD THOUGHT. CLEARLY FUTURE ACTION DEPENDS ON CONFIRMATION OF BA'S INTENTIONS, HOWEVER WITH THE FURTHER TALKS WITH LIM IN JANUARY WHICH ARE MOOTED, COUPLED WITH ROGERS'S

IMPENDING VISIT TO AUSTRALIA IN LATE FEBRUARY, WE MAY BE ABLE TO CLEAR A SINGAPORE-PERTH ROUTE FOR CPA FAIRLY EASILY.

•

ROBERTS

[COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT]

FILE S

MAED

HK & GD

SEAD

CONFIDENTIAL

141