TNAG-0781-FCO40-985-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 73

CONFIDENTIAL

4. ALTERNATIVELY, IF THEY REALLY NEED TIME TO SORT OUT THEIR

·

POSITION, DCA WOULD BE WILLING TO EXTEND THE PRESENT NON-SCHEDULED

SERVICES, WITHOUT CONDITIONS (SINCE THE RATIONALE FOR CANTON FAIR-LINKED CHARTER FLIGHTS NO LONGER EXISTS), FOR A PERIOD OF 7 DAYS FROM 1 DECEMBER. IF THIS COURSE IS FOLLOWED PEKING SHOULD MAKE SURE CAAC UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL GESTUPE MADE BY DCA PURELY TO GIVE THEM TIME AND TO AVOID THE EMBARRASSMENT OF FLIGHTS ALREADY ADVERTISED NOT TAKING PLACE. WE COULD THEN MOVE TO SCHEDULED SERVICES IF THE - CHINESE DECIDE IN FAVOUR OF THEM.

5. DCA IS NOW UNDER INCREASINGLY STRONG PRESSURE FROM JOURNALISTS.

IF HE CONTINUES NOT TO COMMENT THIS WILL BE TANTAMOUNT TO DENYING THE ACCURACY OF THE CAAC ADVERTISEMENT. HE CANNOT HOWEVER CONFIRM THAT CHARTER'' FLIGHTS WILL CONTINUE. CIVIL AVIATION SPOKESMAN WILL THEREFORE CONFIRM TONIGHT THAT 'ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE FOR, CAAC FLIGHTS BETWEEN CANTON AND HONG KONG TO CONTINUE''. HE WILL NOT ELABORATE.

*

MACLEMOSE

FILES:

FED

K&G D.

MAED

PS/LOAD GORONAY ROBERTS

MR CORPAZZI

HR NURRAY

MISS BROWN -

PR DARWIN (LEGAL ADVISER)

COFIES TO:

CAIK DIVN DOT

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON.

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