TNAG-0778-FCO40-982-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 242

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MAR 1978

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TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 172 OF 1 MARCH 1978,

AND TO BERNE,

INFO BCARFE HONG KONG.

UK/SWITZERLAND AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT.

1. FURTHER TO OUR TELNO 963 OF 1977 AND ALLOT NO 12, ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH THE SWISS AUTHORITIES ON 14/15 MARCH TO START AT 10.30 HOURS AT SHELL MEX HOUSE. GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER YOU STILL INTEND TO BE REPRESENTED AS INDICATED IN YOUR TELNO 7.

2. THE UK DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY STANDEN (DOT) AND THE SWISS DELEGATION BY AN AS YET UNNAMED MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. SECTION OF THE FEDERAL AIR OFFICE. THE SWISS TEAM WILL INCLUDE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE IR LONDON EMBASSY, SWISSAIR DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (HOTT INGER) AND THE IR UK REPRESENTATIVE.

3. SOME PREPARATORY WORK ON EUROPEAN ASPECTS OF THE CONSULTATIONS HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND IT IS NOT AT PRESENT CLEAR WHAT FURTHER BRIEFING MEETINGS WILL BE REQUIRED. STANDEN WILL HOWEVER IN ANY EVENT WELCOME AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS OUR PROPOSED LINE WITH YOUR REPRE- SENTATIVE ON 13 MARCH IF THAT WOULD BE CONVENIENT.

4. YOU HAVE NO DOUBT BEEN GIVING THOUGHT TO ANY DEMANDS WHICH MIGHT LE MADE OF THE SWISS ON BEHALF OF CPA WITH A VIEW TO REDUCING THE PRESENT LARGE IMBALANCE OF EARNINGS UNDER THE BILATERAL. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU WOULD LET US HAVE YOUR IDEAS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

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