TNAG-0778-FCO40-982-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 120

PRIORITY

GR 475

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 130423Z.

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FED replying

aure

TO PRIORITY F.C.O TELNO.473 OF 13 APRIL 78,

INFO PRIORITY: PEKING, D.O.T.

R&RIM. Thompson

Акк. 18411.

14 ADD 1978

DESK OFY INDEX

No

NON-SCHEDULED FLIGHTS BETWEEN CHINA AND HONG KONG.

PA

BA

Ree (393

1. THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASING SIGNS RECENTLY THAT THE CHINESE MAY BE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN MOUNTING NON-SCHEDULED PASSENGER

FLIGHTS TO AND FROM HONG KONG. THE LATEST INDICATION IS A REPORT IN A LOCAL COMMUNIST-CONTROLLED PAPER (THE WEN WEI PAO) ON 8 APRIL QUOTING SOURCES IN CANTON AS SAYING THAT PREPARATIONS ARE UNDER WAY FOR TWICE-DAILY FLIGHTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CANTON USING TRIDENT AIRCRAFT OF CAAC. THE REPORT SAID THAT THE PREPARATORY WORK IS BEING DONE QUOTE WITH THE SUPPORT OF

ALL SIDES UNQUOTE.

2. THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL APPROACH TO THE DCA TO SUBSTANTIATE THE STORY, ALTHOUGH A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY EARLIER INDICATED TO THE POLITICAL ADVISER (IN REPLY TO A QUERY ABOUT PREVIOUS PRESS SPECULATION) THAT THE QUESTION WAS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. IN CONVERSATION WITH THE DCA, A REPRESENTATIVE OF JARDINE AIRWAYS (CAAC'S 'HANDLING AGENT IN HONG KONG), WHO IS SHORTLY GOING TO CANTON FOR DISCUSSIONS, SAID THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT CAAC WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO MOUNT

SUCH SERVICES IN TIME FOR THE SPRING FAIR (WHICH OPENS ON 15 APRIL) BUT MIGHT BE READY FOR THE AUTUMN FAIR. THERE IS HOWEVER A POSSIBILITY THAT, IF THE CHINESE ARE SERIOUS, THEY MIGHT SUGGEST THAT SOME FLIGHTS SHOULD BE ARRANGED DURING THE LATTER PART OF

THE FAIR.

CONFIDENTIAL

/3. PERHAPS

Page 120Page 121