TNAG-0935-FCO40-1154-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Iran-1980 — Page 94

Mr Miers

KASTRICTED

Reference

нк когolt

ALCOVE

UPDATRY NO. 23 APR 1980

MAX OFFICER INDEX

PA

REJISTAY

Action Taker

SERVICING OF IRANIAN AIR FORCE PLANES

1.

th

The American Embassy told me this morning that the State Department has instructed a number of its Embassies to approach host governments to persuade[ them to discourage their national airlines from taking up the contract to service Iranian Air Force 707s and 747s. These instructions have gone to American Embassies in all OECD countries and, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Austria, Iceland, Finland and Luxembourg. The Embassies have undertaken to report back to us the results of this demarche.

2. In addition, our Embassy in Bonn has spoken to the Germans, who think it highly unlikely that Lufthansa would take on the servicing contract (Bonn telno 336 attached).

3. Our Embassy in Washington asked last week if they could publicise BA's decision not to take on the contract. I consulted British Airways, and they would be loath to have news of their refusal publicised; as far as they are concerned it is a private, commercial matter, and publicity could in any case make difficult their relations with Iran Air, both here and in Tehran. News Department subsequently spoke accordingly to Washington.

21 April 1980

Sufi 2

A

S M J Lamport: MED

3982

CC:

MAED

News Dept

Copy &

M. CIJ AKGD✓ K246.

Mr Clift

Junie

224.

My Clift. Hongkong know what

the

has happened and I son sme

Kat HAELD, a

Swires fatsidary.

would heed the Curvernus advice. der to get invoud.

Сам

be

Swe

M

Hay Kay fin

2.4.

CODE 18-77

SS 8.78

will step in ?

PA

бол

Mr. Williamén 1 11.4

RESTRICTED

How do we stand on

Mis?

MED 21/ir

21|

Mr. Willingham (37.4

P1. tell Mr. Tatham MED 2/4