TNAG-0862-FCO40-1072-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1979 — Page 25

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CONFIDENTIAL

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CONFIDENTIAL 184/

FM WELLINGTON 019557Z FEB 79

TO ROUTINE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 43 OF 1 FEBRUARY

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INFO MANILA, SINGAPORE, HONG KONG (FOR BCARFE) N. | Jalz

PLEASE PASS TO DOT.

UK/PHILIPPINES AIR SERVICES.

FOR BRYANT FROM ROGERS.

1.

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AS YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM THE REPORTING TELEGRAMS, THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS BA SERVICES BEYOND SINGAPORE TO MANILA DURING MY VISIT TO SINGAPORE DURING WEEK BEGINNING 15 JANUARY,

I SEE NO PROSPECT OF BEING ABLE TO TAKE SOUNDINGS OF THE SINGAPOREANS BEFORE YOUR TALKS IN MANILA IN WEEK BEGINNING 12 FEBRUARY. EVEN IF THERE WERE, I WOULD EXPECT THEIR REACTION TO BE UNHELPFUL IN

THE PRESENT CLIMATE.

2. IT SEEMS THEREFORE THAT THE BEST TACTIC FOR YOU TO EMPLOY IN MANILA WOULD BE TO EXPRESS SYMPATHY FOR PAL'S ASPIRATIONS (IF THE FIGURES JUSTIFY IT) AND TO EXPLORE A POSSIBLE DEAL, BUT TO SAY

THAT YOU ARE UNABLE TO COMMIT YOURSELF FINALLY UNTIL THE ICAP

SITUATION HAS BEEN RESOLVED, SINCE BA'S PLANNING OF ITS TOTAL

ROUTE NETWORK TO THE FAR EAST IS SO MUCH BOUND UP WITH THAT.

3. THIS LINE MIGHT INCIDENTALLY BE HELPFUL IN ENCOURAGING THE

FILIPINOS TO PRESS SINGAPORE, WITHIN ASEAN, FOR AN EARLY RESOLUTTION

OF THE ICAP SITUATION.

Copies sent to CAB/DOT

SMEDLEY

SEAS

HASD

HLYGD

SPO

CONFIDENTIAL