TNAG-0865-FCO40-1075-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1979 — Page 73

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5. HE WOULD HOWEVER TELL GARUDA OF OUR VIEWS AND HOPED TO STIMULATE THEM INTO FURTHER THINKING ABOUT HONG KONG SERVICES. WE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE UNSATISFACTORY TO US IF TALKS WERE LONG DELAYED. THE EXISTING AGREEMENT WOULD EXPIRE ON 30 SEPTEMBER, AND AS RISAKOTTA KNEW, CPA HOPED TO FLY THEIR SECOND B747 TO SINGAPORE BY MAY 1980. AN INDONESIAN DECISION ABOUT 3747 ACCESS TO JAKARTA WOULD THEREFORE BE NECESSARY WELL IN ADVANCE. RISAKOTTA SAID THAT HE WAS SURE SOMETHING'' COULD BE ARRANGED BEFORE 30 SEPTEMBER, BUT WAS NON-COMMITTAL WHEN PRESSED, WHETHER THIS WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIVE ROUNDS OF TALKS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT. HE REITERATED THAT HIS FIRST TASK WAS TO SATISFY GARUDA ABOUT THE US.

6. IT SEEMS VERY LIKELY THAT THE INDONESIANS WILL NOT NOW WISH TO HOLD SUBSTANTIVE TALKS BEFORE THE LAPSE OF THE PRESENT AGREEMENT. WE SHALL THEREFORE BE THROWN ON TO THE EXPEDIENT OF SHORT TERM RENEWALS UNTIL THEY BECOME POSSIBLE. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO MAKE CLEAR TO RISAKOTTA THAT ANY UNDUE DELAY WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE. (HE UNDERSTANDS WELL THE REASONS FOR THIS). WE WILL ENDEAVOUR

TO GET A NEW FIRM DATE OUT OF HIM AS SOON AS POSSBLE..

7. FOR COMMENT, PLEASE SEE MIFT.

SPENDLOVE

COPILS SENT TO CAD/DOT

Fives

MAGA SEAD

HVGD

FED NAMD MISS BLOWN

HR HURRAY

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