TNAG-0781-FCO40-985-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 162

CONFIDENTIAL-

4. EVEN IF THE CONSORTIUM'S BUSINESS ASSOCIATE IS LOOKING FOR SOME

INSTRUMENT TO FACILIATATE A POLITICAL DECISION ON THE AIRPORT CONTRACT, THE LINE HE HAS FOLLOWED IS SO ILL-FOUNDED AS TO BE A VERY SURPRISING CHOICE. IT IS ALARMING, HOWEVER, IF DESPITE YOUR ASSURANCES, THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS SHOULD HAVE SWALLOWED IT, PARTICULARLY AS ONE OF HIS OFFICIALS, DR CHITTI, LED

THE THAI TEAM IN SEPTEMBER TALKS. PROTECTIVE ACTION SEEMS CALLED

FOR AND, IF YOU AGREE, GRATEFUL IF CHITTI COULD BE APPROACHED INFORMALLY.

5. LINE TO FOLLOW COULD BE THAT WE HAVE BEEN SURPRISED TO HEAR

RUMOUR FROM OTHER QUARTERS THAT THAIS MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SATISFIED

WITH RESULTS OF SEPTEMBER TALKS, WE FIND THIS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE

IN VIEW OF SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION, BUT WE ARE BOTHERED THAT THE DEPUTY MINISTER MIGHT HAVE HEARD THE RUMOUR. PLEASE SEEK

ASSURANCE FROM CHITTI THAT THERE IS NO MISUNDERSTANDING BY THE

MINISTER. IN TURN, CHITTI CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE HAVE JUST APPROVED THA! INTERNATIONAL'S SCHEDULE OF SUMMER SERVICES IN 1979 (SEE PARA 5 OF SAVINGGRAM OF 25 SEPT).'

OWEN

FILES

MAED SEAD HK & GD MISS BROWN MR MURRAY

/COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT/

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