TNAG-0780-FCO40-984-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 159

DRAFT UK REPLY TO THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

1 The UK Government share the Australian Government's

desire for cheaper air fares between Australia and the UK.

These would help to cement still further the close

relationship between the two countries.

2 We find the Australian proposals for end to end scheduled

services, low fares and high aircraft utilisation on the

trunk route between the UK and Australia novel and

attractive. If such a scheme could be introduced in an

orderly and acceptable manner and subject to solutions

being found to certain practical problems identified in

the talks, we would cooperate in the implementation of the

Australian proposals.

3

The Australian proposals in respect of the Australia/UK

route have important implications for a number of other

countries, notably India, Malaysia, Singapore and

Thailand. We understand that the Australians intend to

open negotiations with these countries. We should welcome

the opportunity to consider these proposals further with

the Australian authorities in the light of those

discussions.

4 We also wish to discuss further the possibility

of incorporating a modest charter operation into the

proposed scheme.

5 We are not yet in a position to respond to the

Australian proposals in respect of the routes between

Hong Kong and Australia.