10. BY YEAR END IT WILL ALSO HAVE SPENT IN EXCESS OF SEVEN HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR GALLEYS, ECONOMY CLASS SEATS, COMPONENTS FOR FLIGHT SIMULATORS WHICH IT HAS ORDERED FROM BRITISH COMPANIES. THE ARTICLE CONTINUES:-
BUT THE RECIPROCITY CONSIDERATION GOES BEYOND THE PURCHASES BY CPA ITSELF.
HONG KONG'S IMPORTS OF BRITISH GOODS HAVE BEEN INCREASING DRAMATICALLY.
THE INCREASE LAST YEAR FAR EXCEEDED 50 PER CENT OVER 1978. FOR TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT ALONE RAILWAY VEHICLES AND ASSOCIATED EUQIPMENT - THE INCREASE SOARED BY 346 PER CENT. AND FOR POWER GENERATING MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT 110 PER CENT.
THERE WAS NO MAJOR PRODUCT CATEGORY, IN FACT, WHICH DID NOT SHOW A SIZEABLE INCREASE.
QUOTE THE BRITISH DECISION IS MOST REGRETTABLE AND INCOMPREHENS- IBLE, UNQUOTE SAID THE HONG KONG EXPORTERS' ASSOCIATION, MR OLIVER NICHOLL.
THE ISSUE GOES FARTHER THAN THE PRESENT DECISION, SAID THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, MR LEN DUNNING.
QUOTE WE ARE A MAJOR TRADING ENTITY WITH AN EXTERNAL TRADE OF OVER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO BILLION DOLLARS.
AND AIR RIGHT AND TRADE ARE TIED TOGETHER. UNQUOTE.
HONG KONG MUST HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHO HAS ACCESS TO THIS MARKET, HE SAID, POINTING OUT THE LONG-STANDING APPLICATIONS BY SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES AND KLM FOR TRAFFIC RIGHTS TO HONG KONG.
THESE AIRLINES REPRESENT COUNTRIES WHO ARE IMPORTANT TRADING PARTNERS AND WHO MUST BE GIVEN MORE ACCESS TO HONG KONG.
QUOTE THERE IS NEED TO REVIEW OUR RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN IN CONNECTION WITH TRANSPORTATION WITH A VIEW TO OUR POSITION IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
QUOTE I DON'T THINK SUCH DECISIONS AS TRAFFIC RIGHTS SHOULD BE LEFT TO BE DETERMINED BY ONE AIRLINE'S ABILITY TO MAKE A PROFIT,
UNQUOTE MR DUNNING STRESSED.
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HE WAS REFERRING TO THE COMMONLY HELD VIEW THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S DECISIONS REGARDING TRAFFIC RIGHTS TO HONG KONG ARE MADE WITH A VIEW TO PROTECTING BRITISH AIRWAYS UNQUOTE.
MACLEHOSE
ALLOT DIST:
MAED
HK v GD
2
COPIES TO :
DOT (CREA)
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