TNAG-0780-FCO40-984-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 199

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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File No.

Paragraph 8

Paragraphs

9 and 10

There are implications for Hong Kong.

At first sight they do not appear very

serious but the Hong Kong Government and

Cathay Pacific Airways are still studying

the proposal. It is too early to give

the Australians a reply in respect of

the Australia/Hong Kong routes.

Alternatives to the Australian proposal.

None is satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

3

The Australian proposals offer economic and social benefits, but politically there are some disadvantages: Singapore and Malaysia are likely to be upset, the former

mid pout especially, and there is some risk that the countries

concerned would gang up to block the scheme. It is difficult to predict how they would react in advance of any

+the

Ние можю

more so if they

believed that the Australia and the UC were already gengus

then.

up

I approach to them and thus difficult to decide how to respond

premature the Australs the core mutueting would be unwise to give an unqualified

ge. On the other hands

'to the Australians.

It

agreement] in principle

I

At the other extreme) to turn

Yow

down the proposal fat this stage would provoke a sharp

reaction from the Australians and would have an adverse

effect on our bilateral air service and perhaps wider relations with them. It would be best to be reasonably forthcoming, provided that we preserve the ability to retreat if the reaction of third countries is tough and in particular if they gang up to block the scheme.

4

We recommend the Australians should as soon as possible be given a written answer on the lines of the attached draft. The reference to introducing the scheme "in an orderly and acceptable manner" is deliberately ambiguous.

which they are asking

Stet

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