TNAG-0867-FCO40-1077-Air-services-between-China--Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1979 — Page 169

GR 330

IDENTIAL

CONFIDEN MAL

Hkk 184/2

RECEIVED

VY NO. 51

FM FCO 121900Z JAN.

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 45 OF 12TH JANUARY.

INDA

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR AND BOARFEM)

FROM FED: YOUR TEL NO 17: UK/CHINA AIR SERVICES.

OFFICE

чий

Tako

1. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE ON THE BEST WAY OF

USING MR VARLEY'S FORTHCOMING VISIT TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THE ASA,

2. IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT THE CHINESE BELIEVE THAT A

SOLUTION TO THE POLITICAL PROBLEM CAN BE REACHED WITHIN THE

TIME SCALE OF THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG/GUANGZHOU (CANTON) FLIGHTS (WHICH INCIDENTALLY EXPIRE ON 28 FEBRUARY AND NOT EARLY MARCH), WE HOPE THAT THE CHINESE WILL AGREE VERY SOON TO

OUR PROPOSALS FOR A POLITICAL STATEMENT. WE SHOULD THEN LIKE TO

EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY OF SEEKING IMPROVEMENT TO THE INITIALLED AGREEMENT THROUGH DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING TO SIGNATURE. (THE IMPROVEMENTS WHICH WE SHALL BE SEEKING WERE SET OUT IN PARA 4 OF MY TEL NO 740 OF 24 NOVEMBER.) FOR THIS PURPOSE ROGERS, DOT (WHO, AS YOU KNOW, NEGOTIATED THE ORIGINAL AGREE MENT)

COULD CONVENIENTLY FIT IN TALKS IN PEKING IN CONJUNCTION

WITH A VISIT TO HONG KONG IN MID-FEBRUARY.

3. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF ROGERS' VISIT PRECEDING MR VARLEY'S, WITH A VIEW TO MR VARLEY SIGNING THE ASA IF

NEGOTIATIONS GO WELL. GRATEFUL FOR THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE ADVICE

ON THE POSSIBLE TIMING OF DISCUSSIONS BY ROGERS SO THAT

OTHER ELEMENTS OF HIS PROGRAMME CAN BE REARRANGED IF NECESSARY,

区。

FAILING SIGNATURE OF AN AGREEMENT DURING MR VARLEY'S VISIT

WE SEE ADVANTAGE IN USING HIS VISIT TO PRESS FOR THE CONCLUSION

OF AN AGREEMENT WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE IMPROVEMENTS REFERRED TO

ABOVE.

5. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, IF NEGOTIATIONS CANNOT BE COMPLETED

BY 28 FEBRUARY DOT WOULD BE WILLING TO EXTEND CAAC'S TEMPORARY

PERMIT FOR THE HONG KONG/GUANGZHOU SERVICE TO COVER THE GAP.

CONFIDENTAL

16. WITH