TNAG-0782-FCO40-986-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 13

GRS 145

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FF CO 201813Z DEC 78

TO ROUTINE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 827 OF 20 DECEMBER

INFO HONG KONG

YOUR TELNO 888 AND HONG KONG TELNO 1449:

AIR SERVICES WITH CHINA

HKK 184/1 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 212 DEC 1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

Two per ar кш

See 759

1. OUR POSITION IS THAT BEFORE WE CONSIDER THE CONTINUATION OF REGULAR FLIGHTS BEYOND 28 FEBRUARY (OR 9 MARCH) WE WISH TO SEE SOME MOVEMENT ON THE CHINESE SIDE IN RESPONSE TO OUR PROPOSALS OVER AN ASA. WE THEREFORE DO NOT WISH TO MAKE ANY COMMITMENT NOW, THOUGH WE NOTE THE CHINESE VIEW IN PARA 1 (B) OF FIRST TEL UNDER REF.

2. WITH REGARD TO PARA 4 OF THAT TEL UNDER REF WE HOPE THAT THE EXPERIENCE OF FLIGHTS OVER THE NEXT 2 MONTHS WILL ENABLE THE CHINESE TO IRON OUT ANY PRACTICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN

IMPLEMENTING AN ASA.

3. WE ARE INCLINED TO AGREE WITH HONG KONG THAT THERE WILL BE LITTLE VIRTUE IN MAKING AN ISSUE OF THE TERMINAL DATE OF THE PRESENT SERIES OF FLIGHTS: BUT WE WOULD PREFER TO CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE COME TO IT.

OWEN

FILES

FED

HK34D

MAED

MR CORTAZZI

COPIES ΤΟ

MR DARWIN, LEGAL ADVISERS

CAIR | DOT

CONFIDENTIAL