TNAG-0858-FCO40-1068-Proposed-UK-China-bilateral-shipping-agreement-1979 — Page 24

CONFIDENTIAL

TELELETTER

FROM: T J B GEORGE, PEKING

REF: 175/548/1

31 MAY 1979

55,

FOLLOWING FOR: M R MORLAND ESQ, MAED, FCO

HKK

175/2

REZZIVED IN ALOITT? NO. 51

5 JUN1979

OFFICER

PA

RY

on Tuban

INL

CC: R C SAMUEL ESQ, FED, FCO

R JT MCLAREN ESQ, HKGD

MR PRYOR, SPD, DEPARTMENT OF TRADE

DR D C WILSON, HONG KONG

KD

S

MY TL'S OF 23 APRIL AND 8 AND 15 MAY: SHIPPING

On

да

See

1. I SHOULD LIKE FAIRLY SOON TO REMIND THE FOREIGN TRADE FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED EXCHANGE OF LETTERS. BUT BEFORE DOING SO I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR GULD- ANCE ON WHAT MORE I MAY SAY ABOUT A POSSIBLE SHIPPING DELEGATION.

2.

SO FAR AS THE MARITIME AGREEMENT IS CONCERNED, DOT (YOUR TELNO 272) PUT THE BALL BACK IN THE CHINESE COURT. I SEE MERIT IN WAITING FOR THE OUTCOME OF THE AIR SERVICES' NEGOTIATIONS BEFORE TAKING FURTHER ACTION. BUT ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT NEW POLITICAL PROBLEMS DO NOT ARISE, IT MIGHT THEN BE TIME TO EXPLORE WITH THE MFA AND THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS WHAT THEY HAVE

IN MIND OVER THE INCLUSION OF HONG KONG. THE OVBIOUS TACTIC IS TO FOLLOW (A) AND (B) OF PARAGRAPH 7 OF MY TL OF 15 MAY,

ASSERT THAT THE PRESENT TEXT SQUARED THE CIRCLE, AND SEE WHETHER THEY WISH TO PROPOSE SOME BEST WORDS''.

3.

MAED PSE PASS COPY TO SAMUEL, FED, MCLAREN, HKGD, I AM COPYING BY BAG TO WILSON, HONG KONG.

SIGNED...TIMOTHY GEORGE