TNAG-0936-FCO40-1155-Visit-of-Norman-Fowler--Minister-of-Transport--to-Hong-Kong--1980 — Page 40

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Mr Murray

INDEX

MINISTER OF TRANSPORT'S VISIT TO HONG KONS:0 4-7 AND 12-14 APRIL 1980

PA

1980

रहतार

R

REGISTRY Ation Texon

1. You are seeing Mr Palmer of the Department of Transport about this visit at 11.15 am tomorrow.

2. I attach a copy of the constitutional and background brief we supplied. Mr Williamson will attend the oral briefing for the Minister of 27 March and will let him know the present position on the garrison talks, immigration from China and Vietnamese refugees. He will also attend your talk with

Mr Palmer.

3.

I understand that the Department of Trade have provided a brief on London/Hong Kong Air Services. The brief says that the Minister should not raise the subject but that, if he is asked about it, he should say that it would be inappropriate for him to comment since the CAA decision is subject to appeal

This is reasonable so far to the Secretary of State for Trade. as any public statement is concerned. You may, however, wish to explain our position to Mr Palmer, so that the Minister under- stands that there is a political angle and can take this into account if officials mention the subject. In the meantime, however, I am writing to Hong Kong to make sure they understand that Mr Fowler is not responsible for Air Services.

26 March 1980

Дир

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

We briefed him.

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