TNAG-0862-FCO40-1072-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1979 — Page 157

RR SINGAPORE

RR KUALA LUMPUR

RR JAKARTA

RR MANILA

RR GOVERNOR HONG KONG

RR BCARFE HONG KONG

GR 157

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 621100Z JAN 79

FM BANGKOK 0209387 JAN 79

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TEL NO 1 OF 2/1/79

AND TO IMMEDIATE CANBERRA.

HKK 180

RECEIVED IN BEGISTRY NO. 51 -- JAN 1978

HINDEX

OFFICER

EGISTRY

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Action

INE

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INFO SINGAPORE, KUALA LUMPUR, JAKARTA, MANILA AND

HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR AHD BCARFE)

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N

YOUR TELNOS'657 AND 653 TO CANBERRA UK/AUSTRILIA AIR SERVICES.

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ull Wid #HOMED

1.IT COULD WELL CAUSE OFFENCE IN THE WAKE OF SOS(T)'S TOUR IF ROGERS WERE TO VISIT. SINGAPORE AND KL BUT MISS OUT BANGKOK. EVEN A BRIEF STOP OVER, TO BRING THE THAIS UP TO DATE WITH LATEST DEVELOPMENTS WOULD AT LEAST SHOW THATWE ARE HOT TAKING

THEIR ACQUIESCENCE IN THE ICAP. SCHEME FOR GRANTED.

IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE IF OUR PRESENT GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE THAIS OVER AIR SERVICES WERE TO BE SPOILED BY AN UNWITTING BUT APPARENT SNUB.

2.AS IT IS NOT YET CLEAR WHETHER ROGERS PROPOSES TO INCLUDE BANGKOK IN HIS ITINERARY, IT SEEMS INADVISABLE TO ASK THAIS ABOUT SUITABLE DATES AT THIS STAGE.

HOWEVER, ANY CONSULTATIONS SHOULD BE HELD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER 1 FEBRUARY, SINCE THAT COULD STAND TO LOSE SOME

LEGITIMATE TRAFFIC ONCE THE REDUCED DIRECT FARES ARE

INTRODUCED.