CONFIDENTIAL
4. WE MUST AVOID ARGUMENTS USED IN THE CAA HEARING WHICH MAY COME
UP AGAIN IN APPEAL. IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE PUT THESE TO MR NOTT
THIS MIGHT BE CONSTRUED AS IMPROPER INTERFERENCE.
5. GRATEFUL ALSO TO KNOW HOW HONG KONG ENVISAGE SUPPORTING CPA
IN THE APPEALS PROCEDURE. WE MUST ENSURE THAT ANY ACTION BY US DOES NOT CUT ACROSS THAT. HOWEVER, WE SEE NO MILEAGE IN OUR PRESSING MR NOTT TO TAKE AWAY BCAL'S EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS AND AWARD
THEM TO CPA. THE MOST WE THINK WE COULD SUGGEST WOULD BE TO REVERT
TO A SPLIT AWARD ALONG THE LINES OF THE ATLA DECISION ALTHOUGH CPA
THEMSELVES HAVE MADE THIS MORE DIFFICULT BY THEIR INSISTENCE IN
THE CAA HEARING THAT ONLY ONE FURTHER CARRIER SHOULD BE LICENCED.
6. WHILE WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP, WE HAVE TO RECOGNISE THAT
THE CHANCES OF SUCCESS ARE NOT GOOD. MR NOTT MUST BE SEEN TO BE
SCRUPULOUSLY FAIR. HE PERSONALLY HAS NEVER REVERSED A CAA DECISION
AND THE DOT HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY ARE NOT OPTIMISTIC IN THIS CASE.
IT IS THEREFORE VERY IMPORTANT THAT HOPES IN HONG KONG SHOULD NOT BE UNDULY RAISED AND THAT ANY FCO APPROACH TO THE DOT SHOULD BE
KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
7. WE AIM IF POSSIBLE TO SUBMIT TO MINISTERS BEFORE EASTER. GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS I AM LEAVING THE
OFFICE MURRAY WILL BE DEALING WITH THIS.
CARRINGTON
FILES
HK & GD
MAED
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MISS BROWN
COPIES TO:
MR GARDINER
LEGAL ADVISER
2
CONFIDENTIAL
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