TNAG-0781-FCO40-985-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 246

CPC 50

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT A

FM CANBERRA 126600Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

Hkk 184/1

בל<<

PA

DENX OFFICE@

INDEX

No.

PA

MY MO. 51

1978

REGISTRY

Action Taken

See (582

584

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 487 OF 12 OCTOBER

INFO SINGAPORE, JAKARTA, BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR,

HONG KONG (GOVERNOR AND BCARFE)

MIFT: UK/AUSTRALIA AIR SERVICES

1. MR NIXON'S STATEMENT DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY REAL SURPRISES. HE HAS PLAYED FAIR BY THE UK BY

2.

(A)

(B)

MAKING PLAIN THAT HIS PROPOSALS ARE SUBJECT TO DISCUSSION WITH THE BRITISH AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND BY NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE ARE ALREADY COMMITTED. NOT IMPUTING BLAME TO US FOR DELAYS AND FOR THE PRESENT PROVISIONAL STATUS OF PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS (ALLEGATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE RECENTLY BY A COMMENTATOR HERE).

ROWLAND HAS TOLD US THAT TWO NEGOTIATING TEAMS WILL GO TO ASEAN COUNTRIES AND TO EUROPE AS SOON AS THEY CAN BE RECEIVED. INCONFIDENCE HE ADDED THAT SINGAPORE WOULDNOT BE FIRST ASEAN COUNTRY VISITED AND GERMANY WOULD BE TOP OF LIST IN EUROPE. AUSTRALIANS WOULD LIKE TO COMPLETE THESE DISCUSSIONS IN 5-6 WEEKS.

3. ROWLAND WILL BE SENDING A MESSAGE TO ROGERS, DOT, WHEN DUST HAS SETTLED HERE.

4.

PROPOSED FARE STRUCTURE IS AS SET OUT IN THE ANNEX TO THE CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM OF DISCUSSIONS OF 5 AUGUST.

/5. PRESS

CONFIDENTIAL