TNAG-0868-FCO40-1078-Air-services-between-China--Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1979 — Page 68

182

HKK 184/2

LLANED BE WEG SMY NO. 51 MANAGEMY 19 JUN 1979

DESK OFFICER

RE:

IND

tw

PA

AC

GRS 120

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM F C O 151831Z JUN 79

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 408 OF 15 JUNE.

FOLLOWING FOR JEAFFRESON FROM POLITICAL ADVISER.

AIR SERVICES.

1. THERE IS A VERY STRONG FEELING IN WHITEHALL AGAINST ADJOURNING TALKS OR GOING FOR OPTION B. WE HAVE THEREFORE AGREED TO GO ALONG WITH OPTION A, BUT ONLY AND STRICTLY ON CONDITION THAT BA GIVE A GUARANTEE TO VACATE THE HONG KONG/PEKING ROUTE WITHIN THREE YEARS. AS A FINAL FALL-BACK WE HAVE SAID THAT WE COULD ACCEPT 4 YEARS FROM INITIALLING THE AGREEMENT ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT HAPPENS WITHIN NEXT FEW WEEKS. WE HAVE SAID THAT IF THIS GUARANTEE CANNOT BE GIVEN, THEN HONG KONG MUST RELUCTANTLY PRESS FOR OPTION B. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO ADRIAN SWIRE AND BREMBRIDGE. THEY WOULD BE PREPARED TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT WE HAVE SUGGESTED.

CARRINGTON

FILES

HKSD

MAED

MR CORTAZX/

HR MURRAY

MISS BROWN!

COPIES TO HKGO.

CONFIDENTIAL