TNAG-0643-FCO40-791-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1977 — Page 36

CR 265

CYPHER CAT A

FM FCO 191906Z

RESTRICTED

(126)

HICK 182 13

22

RESTRICTED

TO ROUTINE HONG KONG (GOVERNOR) TELNO 973 OF 19 DECENDER

INFO THE HAGUE

YOUR TELNO 1270: KLM SERVICES TO HONG KONG.

1. BRITISH AIRWAYS AND KLM ARE WELL ADVANCED WITH THE PREPARATION

OF THE COMMERCIAL AGREEMENT AND A FURTHER ROUND OF TALKS AT COVERN-

MENT LEVEL TO DRAW UP A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN FIXED TO TAKE PLACE IN THE HAGUE ON 16 AND 17 JANUARY, THE PREPARATION

AND SIGNATURE OF THE DOCUMENT IS EXPECTED TO DE NO MORE THAN A FORMALITY BUT SHOULD YOU WISH TO BE REPRESENTED WE SHALL BE HOST HAPPY TO WELCOME A REPRESENTATIVE. OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL BE CONFINED TO SHORT HAUL OPERATIONS BETWEEN UK PROVINCIAL POINTS AND

THE NETHERLANDS.

2. THE DUTCH MADE NO REFERENCE IN NOVEMBER TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A SERVICE BY KLM BETWEEN RAMCOON AND HONG KONG THOUGH THEY SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT RANGOON BE RETAINED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BANGKOK ON THE ROUTE TO BE SERVED BY THE WIDE-RODIED AIRCRAFT. THEY MADE NO BID FOR TRAFFIC RIGHTS BETWEEN ANY INTERMEDIATE POINTS AND HONG HOMO. WE ACCORDINGLY INTEND TO SETTLE ON THE BASIS OF THE ROUTE SET OUT IN PARA 2 OF OUR TELNO 874 LEAVING THE QUESTION OF THE POSSIBLE UNDLINDING OF RANGOON MONG KONG IN ABEYANCE. WE AGREE THAT IT IS LESS LIKELY THAT KLM WILL OPERATE OVER RANCOON ONCE BANGKOK 13 AVAILABLE, UNLESS OF COURSE THEY RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES WITH THE

THAIS.

RESTRICTED

13. DESPITE THE