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CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 184/6
CONFIDENTIAL RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
FM HONG KONG 091002Z JUN 80
TO PRIORITY FCO
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TELEGRAM NUMBER 745 OF 9 JUNE
PERSONAL FOR CLIFT FROM GOVERNOR.
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70.6
10 JUN 1980
DESK OFFICER
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YOUR LETTER OF 2 JUNE ( RECEIVED TODAY): CAA DECISION.
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REGISTRY Action. Tak
1. IF MR NOTT ACCEPTS CAA'S TWO-CARRIER VERDICT BUT FINDS GROUNDS FOR SUBSTITUTING CPA FOR BCAL, NATURALLY WE WIE GAIN ALL THE MILEAGE FOR HMG HERE WE CAN. CERTAINLY WE WOULD WISH TO POINT UP THE IMPARTIALITY OF THE DECISION, AND THE CONCERN FOR FAIR PLAY FOR
HONG KONG IN THE OBVIOUSLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH MR NOTT WAS PLACED.
2. IF THE DECISION IS TO REVERT TO THE ATLA FINDING, WE WILL PLAY IT ALONG SIMILAR LINES.
3. IF THE CAA DECISION IS UPHELD NOTHING WOULD PREVENT PEOPLE HERE SAYING AND WRITING UNPLEASANT THINGS. THE ADVICE IN PARAS 4-8
IS SUBJECT TO THIS REGRETTABLE FACT. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD CONFINE ITSELF TO A STATEMENT OF REGRET. WE WOULD ENDEAVOUR TO
CALM CPA.
4. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES MY ADVICE WOULD BE FOR OFFICIALS AND MINISTERS, WHETHER HERE OR IN THE UK, TO KEEP THEIR HEADS DOWN UNTIL THE INITIAL STORM HAD BLOWN OVER. I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT ADVISE INVOLVING MARCH OR WILSON EITHER IN BACKGROUND BRIEFING OR
ON THE RECORD.
5. GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES WOULD GIVE FULL PUBLICITY TO ANYTHING MR NOTT CHOSE TO SAY.
6. 1 PRESUME MR NOTT WOULD WISH TO EXPLAIN THE TECHNICAL OR LEGAL GROUNDS WHICH CONSTRAINED HIM TO THE DECISION, EVEN THOUGH THESE WOULD PROVOKE REBUTTALS HERE. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT HE SHOULD ALSO INDICATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE STRENGTH OF FEELING IN HONG KONG AND EXPRESS SYMPATHY WITH IT, AND STATE THAT HIS DECISION IMPLIED NO WEAKENING OF HMG'S SUPPORT FOR AND COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG
7. IT MIGHT ALSO HELP IF AT THE SAME TIME MR NOTT WERE TO MAKE A STATEMENT, OR WRITE AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF CPA, EXPRESSING SYMPATHY AND PLEDGING CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR CPA'S RIGHTS AS A REGIONAL CARRIER. THIS WOULD BE THE MORE EFFECTIVE IF IT CONTAINED A STATEMENT THAT THE DECISION ON THE CABOTAGE ROUTE IN NO WAY IMPLIED ANY WISH ON THE PART OF HMG TO INTRODUCE A FURTHER UK CARRIER INTO REGIONAL AND PACIFIC SERVICES IN WHICH THEY CONTINUED TO REGARD CPA AS THE PRINCIPAL BRITISH FLAG CARRIER, AND WHOSE INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND INTERESTS THEY WOULD UPHOLD.
8. THIS WOULD AT LEAST DISPEL SUSPICIONS THAT HMG INTENDED TO USE THE CABOTAGE AWARD TO INTRODUCE BCAL INTO FAR EASTERN REGIONAL SERVICES. I DOUBT IF GENERAL ASSURANCES OF SUPPORT FOR CPA WOULD CUT MUCH ICE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNLESS COUPLED WITH SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC ALONG THE LINES I HAVE SUGGESTED.
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