TNAG-0778-FCO40-982-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 125

CONFIDENTIAL

GR 160

PRIORITY

HKK 184/1

30. 51

CYPHER CAT/A

13 ARD 1978

INUSX

FM VIENTIANE 100745Z

Brislind

CONFIDENTIAL

пра

203

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO.18 OF 19 APRIL

AND TO BCARGE,

SAVING TO HANOÌ.

LAO AIRCRAFT: MAINTENANCE IN HONG KONG : YOUR TELNO 10 OF

17 MARCH.

LAO AVIATION AUTHORITIES HAVE SO FAR MADE NO APPROACH ON THIS

MATTER DESPITE VARIOUS OPPORTUNITES PRESENTED E.G. DURING CONVER-

SATIONS ABOUT OVERFLIGHTS UNLESS YOU REQUEST OTHERWISE WE SHALL

NOT RAISE THE SUBJECT.

2. AS TO C123 NUMBERS AND CONDITION, DEPUTY MANAGER OF SHELL BELIEVES THAT AT PRESENT THERE MAY BE NO MORE THAN 4 (OUT OF A TOTAL OF A DOZEN OR SO) WHICH ARE SERVICEABLE. THEY HAVE HAD NO

TOP-QUALITY MAINTENANCE SINCE 1975 AND ARE KEPT GOING BY A PROCESS OF CANNIBALISATION, HE PRESUMES. IT MAY BE THAT THE RUSSIANS WHO

MAINTAIN AN-245S AND MIGS HERE HAVE BEEN ALBE TO GIVE

TECHNICAL ADVICE, THOUGH IT IS UNLIKELY THEY HAVE PROVIDED SPARES,

3. ALTHOUGH THEY SEEM TO HAVE A NORMAL CIVIL AIR TRANSPORT ROLE,

THE C123S ARE BELIEVED TO BE FLOWN BY LAO MILITARY CREWS.

BRIDGWOOD

FILES

MAED

HK & GD

SEAD

MR BURROWS

MR CORTAZZI

CONFIDENTIAL