TNAG-0964-FCO40-1183-Air-services-between-the-UK-and-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 138

Miss Stoddart

MAED (G66/1)

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HKK 18H/6

10 AP090

J15.4

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HONG KONG AIR TRAFFIC LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS : SIR FREDDIE LAKER

1. Thank you for sending me the draft submission on this subject. I have the following comments.

2.

3.

Paragraph 3. I suggest an addition after sentence 4:

"Moreover, the Hong Kong ATLA's recommendation on the route as a whole (for a service shared between British Caledonian and CPA) was by no means the preferred solution of the Hong Kong Government."

Paragraph 3, sentence 6. For "reply to" read "comment on". I would like to avoid giving the impression that Hong Kong are in the dock on this.

4.

Paragraph 4, sentence 3. For "what is proposed" read "what we are doing'. I hope it can be clearly understood that we are writing to Hong Kong whatever Sir Freddie may think.

5. Draft to Sir Freddie.

sentence should read:

paragraph 2. I suggest the first

"In order to deal fully with the allegations you have made, he will need........".

The point is the same one, to avoid suggesting that Sir Freddie has raised significant points which require justification.

6. May I also take the opportunity to comment on the draft letter which we intend to send to Hong Kong (attached to your minute of 8 April).

7.

Paragraph 2. I suggest that at the end of this paragraph we take up the question of alleged malpractice over the matter of ATLA timings covering the point raised in paragraph 6 of Mr Gardiners minute of 8 April. I would hope that it would be possible to refute the idea that a CAA hearing should necessarily precede an ATLA one. Would something on the following lines be appropriate?

"Furthermore, I cannot agree that HMG should intervene over the timing of ATLA hearings. The purpose of the ATLA is to ensure that when a service is proposed the interests of Hong Kong are taken into account, just as the CAA watches over the interests of the UK as a whole. If the two authorities do reach differeing conclusions, it may of course be necessary to work out a compromise but to rule that CAA hearings must always precede those of the ATLA would not necessarily help this."

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