CONFIDENTIAL
QAXERA
184
HICK 16
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
2 6 MAR 1980
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PEGISTRY
PA
Act
то
J.9.4
ERS 500
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BCARFE HONG KONG 1910192 MARCH 80
TO IMMEDIATE DOT (CAIR)
TELEGRAM NUMBER ALLOT 12 OF 19 MARCH
INFO IMMEDIATE DOT (CRE4) FCO
FOR ROBERTS
FROM WILSON
N.C.R. YOUR ALLOT 15 OF 17 MARCH
THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS WERE AGREED BY DEREK MARCH AND
BILL GAULD BECAUSE IT WAS FELT YOU WOULD WISH AN EARLY
INDICATION OF HONG KONG'S REACTIONS. I WAS IN TOKYO (WHERE
SUTCH TOLD ME THAT JOHN SWIRE'S REACTIONS WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE REPORTED IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG).
2. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS SO FAR MADE NO COMMENT ON CAA
DECISION OTHER THAN THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: QUOTE IT IS
UNDERSTOOD THAT CATHAY PACIFIC INTENDS TO APPEAL TO THE BRITISH MINISTER OF TRADE, MR JOHN NOTT. THE GOVERNMENT CAN AT THAT STAGE MAKE ITS RESPONSE AND INTENDS TO DO SO UNQUOTE.
IN VIEW OF YOUR TUR WE HAVE MADE NO INFORMAL SOUNDINGS OF THE GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE. KEEP (IN LONDON) AND JEAFFRESON (IN BANGKCK)
ARE BOTH OUT OF THE COLONY.
3. THERE HAS HOWEVER BEEN PREDICTABLE REACTION FROM THE MEDIA
AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. ARTICLE FROM TODAY'S SCMP BUSINESS NEWS (QUOTED IN MIFT) PROVIDES A REASONABLE SUMMING UP OF GENERAL
HONG KONG BUSINESS FEELINGS.
4. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN CONSIDERABLE COMMENT, ALMOST ALL ADVERSE,
ON ENGLISH-LANGUAGE RADIO ''PHONE-IN'' PROGRAMMES BOTH
YESTERDAY AND TODAY. TODAY'S PROGRAMME INCLUDED AN INTERVIEW
WITH BLUCK OF CPA. FROM SUCH COMMENT, THE PRINCIPAL POINTS ON WHICH STEELE WILL NEED TO BE BRIEFED FOR HIS VISIT HERE, ARE
(A) THE UNFAIRNESS OF THE CAA DECISION IN ITS DISREGARD FOR NORMAL RECIPROCITY PROVISIONS OF INTERNATIONAL AIR AGREEMENTS. (B) THE STATUS OF THE CAA AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO HMG. DECISION IS
BEING READ HERE AS GOVERNMENT DECISION.
CONFIDENTIAL
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