TNAG-0778-FCO40-982-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 108

GR.295

PRIORITY

ER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 140951Z

CONFIDENTIAL

1973

INDEX

No

CONFIDENTIAL

TO PRIORITY F.C.O TELNO.488 OF 14 APRIL 78,

INFO PEKING, D.O.T, HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.

PEKING TEL NO.24 TO HONG KONG : NON-SCHEDULED AIR SERVICES

CHINA/HONG KONG.

1. THE CARGO ORIGINATES IN SHANGHAI BUT THE AIRCRAFT IS ROUTED

VIA CANTON TO COMPLY WITH THE ACCEPTED ENTRY/EXIT ROUTE BETWEEN CHINA AND HONG KONG. WHEN THE FIRST OF THESE SPECIAL FLIGHTS ARRIVED THE CREW ASKED THEIR AGENTS (JARDINES) WHETHER IT WAS NECESSARY TO PROCEED VIA CANTON IN FUTURE, COMING DOWN FROM SHANGHAI WITHOUT CALLING AT CANTON WOULD SHORTEN THE JOURNEY TIME AND ENSURE FRESHER PRODUCTS ON ARRIVAL. BY REFUELLING IN HONG KONG THEY WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO SHANGHAI DIRECT.

2. AT MEETINGS HELD IN JULY 1966 AND AGAIN IN MARCH 1977 BETWEEN AVIATION OFFICIALS FROM HONG KONG AND CANTON, WE TRIED HARD BUT UNSUCCESSFULLY TO PERSUADE THE CHINESE TO AGREE TO A MORE DIRECT ROUTE FOR TRAFFIC BETWEEN THE CANTON AND HONG KONG FLIGHT INFORMATION REGIONS, IN ORDER TO KEEP SUCH TRAFFIC CLEAR OF OUR BUSY AIRWAY TO THE NORTH-EAST. (THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS REQUIRE TRAFFIC FROM CANTON TO HONG KONG TO PROCEED E.S.E FOR 31 NAUTICAL MILES, S.E FOR 67 MILES, SOUTH FOR 16 MILES AND FINALLY

WEST FOR 38 MILES). WE THEREFORE TOLD JARDINES THAT WE, FOR OUR PART, ARE PREPARED TO CLEAR THESE PARTICULAR AIRCRAFT DIRECTLY TO AND FROM CHINESE AIRSPACE WITHOUT THE CIRCUITOUS ROUTING VIA CANTON. WE TOLD JARDINES TO SAY THAT WE WOULD WELCOME

THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE AVIATION AUTHORITIES TO AMEND THE ROUTING AND ENTRY/DEPARTURE PROCEDURES NOW IN USE. THE POLITICAL ADVISER IS CONFIRMING TO THE NCNA OUR WILLINGNESS TO HAVE SUCH TALKS.

MACLEHOSE.

MAED

FED

HKGD

FILES

SEAD

MR. BURROWS

[COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT]

COPIES TO:

HKGO., LONDON.

CONFIDENTIAL