TNAG-0843-FCO40-1053-Visit-of-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1979 — Page 72

CONFIDENTIAL

3 -

The statistics may appear to suggest this, but no way of knowing

whether imports from developed countries would have been any

different if Hong Kong's quotas had been higher.

REINFORCEMENT OF THE GARRISON

9. The Government has agreed that the reinforcements should be

provided for 12 months. Hope that the illegal immigration situa-

tion will be brought under control long before then. (If pressed)

the precise division of costs will need to be negotiated between

experts on both sides.

BRITISH AIRWAYS

10. Understand that BA service to London is not as efficient as

it should be. On long haul routes delays often caused by factors

beyond the airlines' control. But BA trying hard to improve their

performance. In the meantime, requests from other airlines to

mount competing services between London and Hong Kong are under

consideration. Not sure whether Cathay Pacific Airways have yet

But welcome to do so.

applied.

Hong Kong and General Department

22 June 1979

CONFIDENTIAL