R
Mr. R.D.Clift,
Head,
Hong Kong Department,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
London SW1A 2AH,
United Kingdom.
Sir,
局議鄉界新
NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK
16th April, 1980.
To Support C.P.A. For Operating HK/Lon V.V.
On 17th March, 1980 the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (C.A.A.) rejected the licence application from Cathay Pacific Airways (C.P.A.) and Laker Airways for operation of HK/Lon route, and awarded a licence to operate the route to British Caldonian Airways (BCal). This decision has drawn protestation from divers levels of Hong Kong people, and voices of dissatisfaction simmering in the air have been increased with the days gone by.
I
Politically, there are five reasons against the decision.
1. Hong Kong is dominated by the U.K. and they are politi cally, tightly linked together. It is evidenced that Hong Kong will lose a fair and just treatment from the British Government if the Hong Kong airline C.P.A. cannot be licensed to operate that air route.
2.
For a long time the British Government has granted the right of landing in Hong Kong to divers countries as a condition for Eciprocal profit. This not only strengthens its relation with countries concerned, but also raises its international position. At the present time, the U.K. only enjoys the political interest of Hong Kong but ignores the protection of its political status. It is in fact unjustifiable to treat Hong Kong like this.
3. The Scandinavia Airliners have long been attempting to gain land- ing right from Stockholm via Copenhagen or Oslo to Hong Kong. The British Go- vernment, however, rejected their application because the said Airliners didn't undertake to profit the British Government in reciprocity. Disregarding the interest on the part of Hong Kong, the British Government has always made use of Hong Kong political status as a capital in dealing with international affairs. The C.P.A. event as pointed out above enlightens us all, that Hong Kong people will be on the alert for actions of the Great Britain.
4. Having awarded a licence to operate from London to Hong Kong to BCal, the U.K. authority should treat H.K. based C.P.A. in equal status to per- mit operation of HK/Lon route too. This is equality of right and political equilibrium.
5. For British Airways to operate airline, say London /Bangkok, it is necessary for the U.K. to license Thai International to operate Bangkok / London
..../P.2
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