TNAG-0868-FCO40-1078-Air-services-between-China--Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1979 — Page 244

45

GRS 224

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 111266Z

FM PEKING 110945Z MAY 79

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 434 OF 11 MAY

CONFIDENTIAL

97

PA

HKK184/2

HALLIVED IN EEG 1.PY NO. 51

DES

1 4 MAY 1979

JISTRY

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG (GOVERNOR AND BCARFE BOTH ROUTINE

Series Tiken

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LDN

По

YOUR TELNO 263: UK/PRC AIR SERVICE NEGOTIATIONS See 99

1. FIRST SECRETARY CALLED ON LI SHUFAN ON 11 MAY AND SPOKE AS IN

YOUR TUR.

2. LI SAID THAT HE HOPED THE TWO SIDES WOULD REACH AGREEMENT ON THE TEXT OF AN ASA QUICKLY DURING THE TALKS. NATURALLY THESE TALKS WOULD COVER THE QUESTION OF THE HONG KONG STOPOVER ON HIS LONDON/PEVING ROUTE. IF THERE WERE TIME AFTER A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE TALKS, HE SAW NO REASON WHY THE TWO SIDES SHOULD NOT DISCUSS AIR SERVICES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND QUOTE INTERIOR CITIES UNQUOTE. HOWEVER, THE CHINESE VIEW WAS THAT NEGOTIATIONS ON THESE REGIONAL SERVICES SHOULD BE HELD BETWEEN

THE REGIONAL AUTHORITIES.

3.

SULLIVAN THANKED LI FOR HIS AGREEMENT THAT THE HONG KONG/CHINA

SERVICES COULD BE DISCUSSED INFORMALLY DURING THE TEAM'S VISIT.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE UK GOVERNMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGOT- JATING AGREEMENTS FOR OTHER SCHEDULED REGIONAL SERVICES INVOLVING HONG KONG AND THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE EXCEPTIONS. LI SAID

THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE AUTHORITY TO THE

REGIONAL AUTHORITIES TO NEGOTIATE ON THEIR BEHALF. NEVERTHELESS

HE DID NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEIR TALKS SHOULD BE AT

GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT LEVEL. THIS WAS A QUESTION THAT COULD

BE DISCUSSED LATER: THE IMPORTANT THING NOW WAS TO GET THE ASA

ON THE TRUNK ROUTE OUT OF THE WAY.

4.

FOR DETAILS OF PRACTICAL QUESTIONS SEE MİFT. (NOT TO HKGOL).

CRADOCK FILES

[COPIES TO CAD/DOT]

MAED

FED

HK YGD

MISS BROWN MA MURRAY

COPIES TO :

HONG KONG GOUT OFFICE

LONDON

CONFIDENTIAL