TNAG-0643-FCO40-791-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1977 — Page 130

GRS 150

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT 'A'

HKK 18+ / 3

18+/3

CONFIDENTIAL

A

FROM F.C.0. 161815Z

CONFIDENTIAL.

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING TELNO 514 OF 16 NOVEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG.

AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT.

R1

1. AT THE ICAO CONFERENCE IN APRIL THIS YEAR THE LEADER OF THE CHINESE DELEGATION APPARENTLY TOLD BRITISH OFFICIALS THAT THERE SHOULD NOW BE NO DIFFICULTY OVER SIGNATURE OF THE ASA. THE STATEMENT WAS INFORMAL AND IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT WEIGHT TO ATTACH TO IT BUT WE SUSPECT THAT CHINESE MAINTAIN THEIR EARLIER STANCE IN VIEW OF RECENT REQUEST TO DCA HONG KONG TO KEEP CAL AIRCRAFT AWAY FROM CARGO APRON WHEN CAAC CARGO FLIGHTS ARE

THERE.

2. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT ASA SHOULD BE RAISED WITH TSENG SHENG BUT THIS SEEMS MOST INAPPROPRIATE AS HE HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR AVIATION. LI CHIANGS VISIT WOULD PROVIDE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY BUT WE ARE INCLINED TO RECOMMEND DEFENSIVE BRIEFING ONLY FOR BOTH VISITS UNLESS WE ARE SURE WE COULD GET SIGNATURE ON OUR TERMS.

3. GRATEFUL URGERTLY YOUR ASSESSMENT OF CHINESE STATEMENT AT ICAO AND ANY COMMENT ON LINE PROPOSED IN PARA 2.

OWEN

FILES

FED

HKGD

MR. MURRAY MR. BURROWS

MAED

MR.CORTAZZI

CONFIDENTIAL

*

(67

COPIES TO:

C AIR/1A,DOT.,SHELLMEX HOUSE.

MR.M.GRAHAM, SHIPPING

POLICY DIVN., DOT.,ADELPHI.