TNAG-0866-FCO40-1076-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1979 — Page 56

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FM HONG KONG 130909Z NOV 79

TO PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, TELNO.1603 OF 13 NOVEMBER,

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INFO COLOMBO, HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.

U.K/SRI LANKA AIR SERVICES.

UNEO MY REGNESYN

13 NOV 1979

OFFICER

See fou

1. WE WERE SURPRISED TO LEARN (VIA AFTN SIGNAL OF 12 NOV FROM ANGELL, CAIR2B, DOT) OF TALKS ARRANGED TO TAKE PLACE IN LONDON

COMMENCING ON 19 NOVEMBER. ALTHOUGH GRATEFUL FOR THE INVITATION TO BE REPRESENTED WE FIND THAT, IN THE LIGHT OF THE SHORT NOTICE AND UNCERTAIN AGENDA, WE SHALL BE UNABLE TO FIELD A REPRESENTATIVE.

2. IF THE SRI LANKANS DO RAISE HONG KONG ISSUES (WHICH IS QUITE LIKELY IN THE LIGHT OF THE SIA/AIR LANKA CONNEXION AND SIA'S EXPANSIONIST PLANS), WE HOPE THAT DISCUSSION OF THEM WILL BE DEFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF A HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVE.

HAVE

3. MEANWHILE, WE ARE CONSULTING CPA WHO, AS YOU KNOW, EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THE PAST IN OPERATING SERVICES TO COLOMBO.

4.

COURSE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING A REPORT ON THE TALKS IN DUE

CATER

FILES:

MAED

SAD

HK GD

MISS BROWN MR MURRAY

[COPIES SENT TO NO.10 DOWNING ST]

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