TNAG-0865-FCO40-1075-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1979 — Page 12

CONFIDENTIAL

MR NIXON REPEATED HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE PROBABLE ADVERSE ASEAN REACTION IF LAKER WERE TO START OPERATING CHARTERS BEFORE

ICAP HAD SETTLED DOWN. ROBERTS DESCRIBED THE TIMETABLE FOR THE CAA HEARING ON THE LAKER APPLICATION, AND REFERRED TO WHAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE HAD SAID AT HIS

RECENT MEETING WITH MR NIXON IN CANBERRA ABOUT THE DOMESTIC POLITICAL PRESSURES ON HMG TO SUPPORT LAKER IF HIS LICENCE

APPLICATION WAS SUCCESSFUL.

10. FCO PLEASE PASS ADVANCE COPIES IMMEDIATE TO SIR KENNETH CLUCAS

TEBBIT

PERMANENT SECRETARY DOT) AND BRYANT (CAIR 1, DOT).

[ADVANCED AS REQUESTED]

[COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT]

FILES:

MAED

SPD

SEAD

HK & GD SAD

MR EVANS MISS BROWN MR CORTAZZI MK MURRAY

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CONFIDENTIAL

COPIES TO:

SIR K CLUCAS KCB FS DOT