TNAG-0865-FCO40-1075-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1979 — Page 209

CONFIDENTIAL

UNLESS THESE CONDITIONS COULD BE MADE HE THOUGHT IT PROBABLE THAT THE CABINET WOULD DECIDE AGAINST MANICKAVASAGAM'S VISIT. RATHER THAN RUN THE RISK OF GETTING THE TALKS OFF TO A FALSE START IT WOULD BE PREFERAVLE TO WAIT FOR AN OCCASION (PERHAPS A DATE

IN EARLY AUGUST) WHEN MR NOTT WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO DISCUSSIONS ON THIS SUBJECT.

3.

TALALLA EMPHASISED SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE PRIME MINISTER

DATUK HUSSEIN ON N WAS PERSONALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE TALKS AND THAT ANY SETBACK COULD ONLY SERVE TO STRENGTHEN THE HAND OF THE HARDLINERS IN THE CABINET WHOTHOUGHT IN TERMS

OF 'RETALIATORY MEASURES'.

4.

JOY UNDERTOOK TO REPORT THESE VIEWS URGENTLY ADDING THAT

HVG WERE AN ANXIOUS AS THE MALAYSIANS TO REACH A SETTLEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. GRATEFUL FOR SOME INDICATION AS SOON AS FOSSIBLE WHETHER WE CAN ACCOMMODATE MALAYSIANS ON POINTS IN PARAGRAPH 2(A) TO (C) ABOVE.

5.

IN VIEW OF THE HEAT CURRENTLY ENGENDERED BY THIS ISSUE WOULD

YOU STILL WISH JOY TO TAKE AT THIS JUNCTURE ACTION WITH

MANICKAVASAGAM ON CONTINUING CONCORDE OVERFLIGHTS REQUESTED IN

MAED. TEL.NO 1907

HUNT

FILE S:

MAED

SEAD

MED

SPD

SAD

HK & G D

FS

COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT]

PS/LFS

FS/MK BLAKER

PS/FUS

SIR A. DUFF

MR CORTAZZI

SED

LEGAL ADVISER

MR BUTLER

MR MURRAY MISS BROWN

2

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