TNAG-0863-FCO40-1073-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1979 — Page 192

n

ONGKOK

DESK BY 09020OZ

GR 300

RESTRICTED

DESKBY 09020OZ FEB

FM DTI 08182OZ FEB 79

TO IMMEDIATE BANGKOK

MKR184/1

RE

PA

NO. CT MAED

GC M

अमीर

No | Joolz Esto. (foring)

TELEGRAM NUMBER ALLOT 1 OF 8 FEBRUARY

PERSONAL FOR ROGERS DOT FROM STEELE

I

HONG KONG TELNO 198 OF 3 FEBRUARY: YOUR VISIT

I NOTICE FROM TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WISH TO RAISE WITH YOU THE POSSIBILITY OF A CPA SERVICE TO LONDON. IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW INTERESTED CPA THEMSELVES ARE, NOR WHETHER THEY ARE SERIOUSLY SEEKING TO RE-OPEN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT TOOK PLACE IN 1975/6. I SHOULD BE INTERESTED TO HEAR HOW MUCH STEAM THERE IS BEHIND THE PROPOSAL, WHICH HAS BOTH DIFFICULTIES AND ATTRACTIONS. IN DISCUSSING WITH THEM PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT:-

1.

THE INITIAL DECISION WOULD BE FOR THE CAA IN RESPONSE TO AN- APPLICATION FROM CPA. THERE WOULD PRESUMABLY BE OBJECTIONS FROM BA AND POSSIBLY LAKER, WHO ARE STILL INTERESTED THEMSELVES.

2. THE DEPARTMENT'S INITIAL ROLE WOULD BE TO ADVISE ON THE CONSEQU- ENCES FOR INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION RELATIONS. THESE WOULD PRESUMABLY ARISE MAINLY IF CPA WANTED RIGHTS BETWEEN UK AND THE GULF. IF THEY DID, WOULD CPA BE THINKING IN TERMS OF A DEAL WITH BA ON THIS? IF A NEGOTIATING PRICE HAD TO BE FOUND, IT WOULD BE NOT UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT CPA TO PAY IT.

3. THE DEPARTMENT WOULD FINALLY BE INVOLVED IF THERE WERE AN APPEAL FROM THE CAA'S DECISION.

· 4. WE STILL GET A STEADY STREAM OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF

BA'S SERVICES.

THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES AT STAKE, NOT ALL OF THEM PRIMARILY FOR THE DEPARTMENT, BUT IN REMINDING HK OF THEM I SHOULD BE GLAD IF YOU WOULD NEITHER DETER NOR ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT

f

OF THE MK AUTHORITIES OR CPA'S FURTHER IDEAS.