TNAG-0781-FCO40-985-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 221

IMMEDIATE

E CLAIR

03 200

FM OTTAWA 192135Z

UNCLASSIFIED

DESKBY 2008082

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 634 OF 19 OCTOBER 1978

UK/CANADA AIR SERVICES TALKS.

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358

MIPT.

BEGINS

A UK DELEGATION LED BY GEORGE ROGERS

OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH CANADIAN OFFICIALS LED BY RALPH COLLINS (CHIEF AIR NEGOTIATOR) IN OTTAWA

THIS WEEK TO REVIEW THE CURRENT AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN

THE TWO COUNTRIES. DISCUSSIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN A FRIENDLY

AND CONSTRUCTIVE ATMOSPHERE. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

AIRLINES CONCERNED WERE PRESENT AT THE TALKS.

SO FAR AS THE ATLANTIC ROUTES ARE CONCERNED DISCUSSIONS CENTRED

AROUND PROPOSALS FOR COMMENCING SERVICES BY BRITISH AIRWAYS

TO WESTERN CANADA. THE BRITISH TEAM TABLED DETAILED SUGGESTIONS

FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS AND THE CANADIAN SIDE UNDERTOOK TO EXAMINE

THESE CAREFULLY.

THE TWO SIDES ALSO DISCUSSED WAYS AND MEANS OF STARTING A SERVICE BY CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS ON THE VANCOUVER/HONG KONG

ROUTE.

A FURTHER MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR LONDON IN JANUARY AT WHICH IT

IS HOPED FINAL AGREEMENT WILL BE REACHED ON BOTH QUESTIONS.

THE PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER ALL SERVICES BETWEEN CANADA AND LONDON

BY BOTH AIR CANADA AND BRITISH AIRWAYS FROM HEATHROW AIRPORT TO

GATWICK WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA FOR THESE TALKS. THIS IS TO BE

DISCUSSED AT A SPECIAL MEETING IN LONDON ON 6 NOVEMBER.

FORD

FILES MAED

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NEWS D

IPD

MR BUTLER

MISS BROWN

MR HALL

MR CORTAZZI

LEGAL ADVISERS

IK & GD

ENDS

[COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT]

COPIES TO:

MR RUMBELOW CAIR/DOT

DOT/PRESS OFFICE

DOT/CRE2