TNAG-0869-FCO40-1079-Air-services-between-China--Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1979 — Page 32

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CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL HER 184/2

22 OCT 1979

FM FCO 131742Z OCT 79

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TEL NO 625 OF 18 OCTOBER 1979

(Nie

INDU

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 914: CAAC USE OF GATWICK/HEATHROW

།

PA

See als

DOT MINISTERS HAVE AGREED THAT SIGNATURE SHOULD TAKE PLACE AFTER

THE SECOND SESSION OF TALKS EVEN IF HUA DOES NOT YIELD ON THE

GATWICK ISSUE AFTER OUR ARGUMENTS HAVE BEEN PUT TO HIM BY THE PRIME

MINISTER AT THE FIRST SESSION. YOU SHOULD NOT OF COURSE LET THE ·

CHINESE KNOW THIS: AMONG OTHER REASONS THE ISSUES HAVE NOT YET BEEN

PUT TO THE PRIME MINISTER HERSELF ANDWE SHOULD PREFER IN ANY CASE

NOT TO REVEAL OUR HAND IN ADVANCE. YOU SHOULD HOWEVER SAY THAT THE SIGNATURE WITHOUT RESOLUTION OF THE AIRPORT QUESTION PRESENTS

CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES, BUT WE ARE PROCEEDING WITH REPRODUCTION OF THE AGREEMENT, AS THE CHINESE HAVE DONE, AS THOUGH SIGNATURE CAN STILL TAKE PLACE.

CARRINGTON

FILES.

HARD

PS/MR BLAKER

FED

PS PUS

NOTD.

SIRA, DUFF

HKGD, MISS BROWN.

PS

MR CORTAZZI.

PS/LPS MR. MURRA

MURRAY.

COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT

CONFIDENTIAL