TNAG-0780-FCO40-984-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 139

Registry

No.

ECURITY CL】______¡FICATION

Top Secret

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

.........

.....In Confidence

DRAFT

LETTER

To:-

The Right Hon Edmund Dell

-The Department of Trade

1 Victoria Street SW1

Type 1 +

From

MR JUDD

Telephone No. Ext.

Department

UK/AUSTRALIA AIR SERVICES

I have seen the joint DOT/FCO official paper on

an Australian proposal for radical revision of the air

services arrangements between Australia and all countries

with services to Australia, and its implications for

the UK.

2. I agree with the recommendation that the Australians

should be given a written answer, on the lines of the

draft submitted by officials and should be told orally

that we should have no objection to the Australians

showing it to the third countries which they approached, if

asked what the UK reaction had been.

3.

I understand that our officials have not been able

to reach agreement on the timing of the next round of

talks with the Australians. I believe your officials

have taken the view that we are committed to a meeting

before the Australians approach third countries and

that not to have one would put us at a tactical disad-

vantage vis-a-vis the Australians. I do not understand

this argument. There would be no breach of undertaking

CONFIDENTIAL

/if