TNAG-0778-FCO40-982-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 9

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4. WE HAVE EXCELLENT RELATIONS WITH THE SWISS AUTHORITIES IN A

NUMBER OF FIELDS AND, DESPITE AN UNUSUALLY HIGH SHARE OF THE MKET IN TEXTILE PRODUCTS, HAVE MANAGED TO AVOID RESTRICTIONS SO FAR, DESPITE MUCH PRESSURE FROM THE SWISS INDUSTRY. IF YOU WERE TO

..CUT BACK SWISSAIR IN THE PROVISION OF A SERVICE WHICH BA HAS

DECIDED NOT TO PROVIDE, THIS WOULD BE REPRESENTED AS UNJUSTIFIABLE

AND HENCE STRENGTHEN THE PROTECTIONIST LOBBY.

5. AS REGARDS QUOTE LEEWAY UNQUOTE TO PROVIDE FOR A SERVICE

TO HONG KONG FOR THE SCANDINAVIANS (WHICH WE HAVE LONG SUPPORTED),

WE DO NOT SEE HOW THE TWO ISSUES ARE LINKED.

6. IF THE PRESENT EFFICIENT, POPULAR AND CONVENIENT SWISSAIR

SERVICES WERE REDUCED AS STANDEN PROPOSES, THEN WE WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING THE HONG KONG PUBLIC TO ACCEPT THAT SOME IMBALANCE BETWEEN THE UK AND SWITZERLAND, WHICH THEY ARE NOT

EVEN AWARE OF, HAS SOMEHOW GOT TO BE RECTIFIED AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR CONVENIENCE.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

MAED

WED

HKOG D MR BUTLER. MISS BROWN MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

COPIES

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HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

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