TNAG-0778-FCO40-982-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 110

199

GR 135

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

FM HONG KONG 140445Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

TO PRIORITY PEKING TELNO 42 OF 14 APRIL 1978

INFO PRIORITY F C O.

FOLLOWING FROM POLITICAL ADVISER.

बुर

AKKI8ULL....

1241078

INDEX

No

YOUR TELNO 23: FLIGHTS FROM HONG KONG TO CHINA.

YOUR AMERICAN COLLEAGUE MAY HAVE PICKED UP REFLECTIONS OF THE STORY IN WEN HUI PAO OF 8 APRIL WHICH IS NOW REPORTED IN

MY TELNO 473.

2. THE ONLY OTHER SOURCE OF THE RUMOUR I CAN THINK OF IS THAT

NEW ZEALAND AIRLINES INTEND TO RUN A RETURN FAMILIARISATION FLIGHT FROM HONG KONG TO CANTON ON 16 APRIL. AS YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE RIGHTS TO USE CANTON AS AN ALTERNATIVE LANDING POINT TO

HONG KONG. THEY TRIED TO USE THIS FACILITY IN A RECENT FOG BUT ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS WENT WRONG. THE FORTHCOMING FLIGHT IS

INTENDED TO SEE IF THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS WORK

NEXT TIME. SIR JOHN KESWICK TELLS ME THAT HE MAY TRY TO RETURN

TO HONG KONG FROM THE FAIR ON THAT FLIGHT. PERHAPS HE IS THE

BUSINESSMAN YOUR COLLEAGUE HAS HEARD ABOUT..

MACLEHOSE

FILES

FED

MAED

HK & GD

MR CORTAZZI

MR THOMAS MR BUTLER MR BURROWS

[COPIED TO CAD/DOT]

CONFIDENTIAL