TNAG-0781-FCO40-985-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 172

(565

RR GOVERNOR HONG KONG

RR BCARFE HONG KONG

GRS130

RESTRICTED

FM DTI 021521Z NOV 78

HKK $184/1

RECEIVE

NO. $1 1978

No

See 16.35

TO ROUTINE GOVERNOR HONG KONG

Tow Takan

K

betty shucous, I said

был

have trzygn

птувани

ISTRIBUTION

TELEGRAM NUMBER ALLOT 160 OF 2 NOVEMBER

INFO BCARFE HONG KONG PEKING

UK/CHINA AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT

YOUR TEL 1180 OF 6 OCTOBER 1978

H K & G D MAED 3

FED

1. WE ARE ATTRACTED TO THE ANTITHESES BETWEEN STATE AND PRIVATE IN THE WORDING OF THE PROPOSED STATEMENT SET OUT IN TEL 599 AND WOULD FOR THAT REASON PREFER IT TO THE FORM OF WORDS NOW BEING PROPOSED IN PEKING TEL €63.

2. THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE OF CAL'S STATUS IS NOT CONCLUSIVE EITHER WAY. WE ARE OF COURSE AWARE OF TAIWANESE OFFICIAL INFLUENCE IN THE AFFAIRS OF CAL, NOTABLY THE APPOINTMENT OF RETIRED AIR FORCE GENERALS TO THE BOARD, BUT THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY PRECLUDE ITS BEING A PRIVATE COMPANY. IT DOES HAVE A REGISTERED CAPITAL WE UNDERSTAND AND WHILST THAT MAY NOT CONCLUSIVELY PROVE THAT IT IS PRIVATE IT IS A CONSIDERABLE POINTER.

3. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE SO ASSERTIVE THAT IT IS NOT PRIVATE.

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