PEKING TL 68
RS 350
CONFATIAL
TELELITTER
FROM: X SULLIVAN, PEKING
220
PA
HACK 184/1
REF: 181/548/1
11 APRIL 1979
FOLLOWING FOR: R C FURSLAND ESQ, FED, FCO
CHANCERY, BANGKOK
CAAC FLIGHTS FROM BANGKOK TO CHINA
No Jis 1 &
1. ON 8 APRIL CAAC ANNOUNCED THAT A CHARTER SERVICE TO THAILAND WAS TO BE STARTED IN MID-APRIL.
2. ACCORDING TO THAI DIPLOMATS IN PEKING, CAAC HAVE IN FACT AGREED TO LEASE PLANES TO A PRIVATE THAI COMPANY WHO PLAN TO ORGANIZE THE SERVICES, WHICH WOULD RUN TWICE WEEKLY BETWEEN BANKOK AND GUANGZHOU (CANTON). LIKE PRE-DECEMBER HONG KONG- GUANGZHOU SERVICES THEY WOULD BE CHARTERS IN NAME ONLY, AND TICKETS WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON DEMAND.
3. THE COMPANY WHO INTEND TO OPERATE THE SERVICES HAVE APPLIED FOR THAI GOVERNMENT APPROVAL, BUT ACCORDING TO THE EMBASSY HERE, THIS HAS YET TO BE GRANTED. THE CHINESE ARE SUSPECTED TO HAVE MADE THIS ARRANGEMENT, AND THE PREMATURE ANNOUNCEMENT IN ORDER TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE THAI GOVERNMENT AND THAI INTERNATIONAL TO OVERCOME THEIR WORRIES ABOUT DAMAGE TO THEIR LUCRATIVE TAIBE! RUNS AND SIGN AN AIR SERVICES AGREE- MENT.
4. THE THAIS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE STATUS OF CAL AND AIR SERVICES BETWEEN TAIWAN AND THAILAND ON SIMILAR LINES TO THAT REQUESTED OF OURSELVES. BUT THE CHINESE HAVE HINTED THAT THEY ARE PREPARED TO DROP THIS DEMAND. THAI INTERNATIONAL, HOWEVER, ARE WORRIED THAT THE VERY OPENING OF SERVICES, IRRESPECTIVE OF ANY STATEMENT, MAY LOSE THEM A LOT OF PASSENGERS. EVEN IF OPERATION RIGHTS TO TAIWID ARE NOT THREATENED. THERE IS THEREFORE PRESSURE ON THE THAI GOVERNMENT NOT TO AGREE EVEN TO THE PROPOSED CHARTER** SERVICES.
5.
THE CHINESE APPEAR TO BE USING SIMILAR TACTICS WITH US BY ANNOUNCING AND ADVERTISING THE HONG KONG/HANGZHOU/ NANJING/HONG KONG SERVICES PRIOR TO OBTAINING OUR AGREEMENT, THEY ALSO ANNOUNCED THE CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG/GUANGZHOU FLIGHTS AFTER THE LAST AUTUMN FAIR PREMATURELY.
6. I AM COPYING THIS TELELETTER BY BAG TO DAVID WILSON, HỒNG KONG.
SIGNED...K SULLIVAN
NNNN
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.