TNAG-0870-FCO40-1080-Air-services-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1979 — Page 97

HAH Cortazzi Esq CMG

CONFIDENTIAL

- 2

3 August 1979

3

I very much hope that you will now be able to agree that this reply should go. If, however, you feel that you must take the policy issue further, no doubt you will advise the appropriate FCO Minister to write to Mr Nott, although I am quite clear that he will not be easily shifted. In that case I suggest that your lawyers and ours should talk first to establish as far as possible an agreed position on the I apre question of vires.

Th!

You

5 Finally, I should just take up the point in the second paragraph of your letter of 22 June in which you suggest that we should do all we can to avoid an outcome where a second In this British airline got on the route and CPA did not. matter, with a CAA hearing impending, this Department at least must be entirely neutral. The Hong Kong interest is important, but it is by no means the only one to be considered.

Yours sincech

Christophe

C W ROBERTS

CONFIDENTIAL