TNAG-0871-FCO40-1081-Air-services-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1979 — Page 4

the fact that some of the London/Hong Kong flights went on to Australia where they were also subject to curfews and industrial action that compounded any delays on the London/Hong Kong leg

unavailable capacity

(e)

capacity reserved for intermediate points.

Now, (d) no longer applies, although it could recur if BA extend London/ Hong Kong flights to Peking and Korea (or other points beyond Hong Kong) in accordance with current planning.

Efforts to get the standard improved

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The Hong Kong Government has repeatedly drawn the se shortcomings to the attention of BA's senior management over the past five years and of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in London more re- cently. It has also endeavoured, in any public official statements, to present a balanced view of the reasons for the shortcomings, to support the airline and to publicise the measures to be taken by it to improve its performance. Added to this, it has attempted to forestall further public criticism by suggesting to the airline or the authorities in the United Kingdom any areas where improvement was needed.

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The Government's observations on the airline's performance have, in the main, been met with attempts by the airline to set matters right as far as that has been possible. However, improvements in the standard of punctuality and service have unfortunately not often been long sustained and the Hong Kong Government's attempts to explain the lapses have, in the past year, become increasingly unconvincing.