CONFIDENTIAL
(THE UNITED STATES) IS A 21 DAY ADVANCE BOOKING PERIOD, WITH A MAXIMUM SUBSTITUTION OF 10 PER CENT. BUT IN THE INTERESTS OF GOOD RELATIONS, WE ARE PREPARED TO AGREE TO THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES ALLOWING THE SE FLIGHTS, FOR A PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, ON THE BASIS WHICH THE CHINESE HAVE PROPOSED. THIS REPRESENTS A MAJOR CONCESSION. (FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, GRANTING THIS CONCESSION TO THE CHINESE COULD CAUSE US DIFFICULTIES ELSEWHERE. FOR THIS REASON, AND ALSO BECAUSE IT COULD BE OF BENEFIT TO US IN FACILITATING THE OBTAINING OF OTHER ROUTES BETWEEN HONGKONG AND CHINA, WE SHOULD PREFER, IF POSSIBLE, THAT THE FLIGHTS SHOULD BE SCHEDULED SERVICES.
4. WHICHEVER RESPONSE THE CHINESE MAKE, YOU SHOULD THEN GO ON TO SAY THAT WE OURSELVES HAVE PROPOSALS TO MAKE REGARDING THE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UK, FOLLOWING THE DISCUSSIONS HELD DURING MR HUANG HUA'S VISIT TO LONDON: AND THAT WE HOPE THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WILL RESPOND TO THESE WITH THE SAME SPEED AND IN THE SAME POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT AS WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY SHOWN OVER CHINESE REQUESTS FOR FLIGHTS TO HONGKONG.
5. YOU SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE CHINESE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR AGREEMENT TO THE CONTINUATION OF CANTON/HONGKONG SERVICES AFTER 3 MONTHS IS MOT CONDITIONAL UPON CHINESE AGREEMENT TO OUR PROPOSALS FOR AN ASA. BUT YOU SHOULD TRY TO LEAVE THEM WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT OUR CONTINUED AGREEMENT CANNOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED AND THAT WE EXPECT GOODWILL TO BE MET BY GOODWILL.
6. YOU SHOULD THEN SEEK AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTION ON MIFT. ALTERNATIVELY, AS YOUR DISCRETION, YOU MAY USE THE SAME MEETING TO DO SO.
O EN
FILES
RED
HK & GD
MAED
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
MR. CORTAZZI
MISS BROWN
2
COPIES TO: MR.DARWIN
LEGAL ADVISER-
HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE DOT/CAIR DIVN.
CONFIDENTIAL
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