TNAG-0965-FCO40-1184-Air-services-between-the-UK-and-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 62

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

АКК 18416

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

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1. You asked for my views on Mr Burton's submission of 1 July and the related correspondence.

2. Although I had asked that a call on BCARFE be included in my programme during my visit to Hong Kong, I was told on arrival that this was neither necessary (he had no direct responsibility for Hong Kong) nor possible (he was likely to be away for at least part of my visit).

3. My impression, which is confirmed by Mr Jeaffre son's letter of 16 May to DOT, is that Mr Wilson is irrelevant as far as Hong Kong's air service negotiations are concerned. He plays no part in them whatsoever and is simply located in Hong Kong for the sake of convenience. No-one in Hong Kong seemed to know much about his activities and assumed, correctly, that these were concerned mainly with air service negotiations between the UK and countries in the Far East and South East Asia. I would have thought that he would have had some role to play with regard to air services between Hong Kong and her neighbours, but this does not appear to be the case. Nor does he seem to have any role as far as Peking is concerned, either with regard to China/UK air services or China/ Hong Kong air services. However, in his defence, I should record that I did hear in Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuala Lumpur that his presence was often very useful, but this is a point which SEAD will no doubt make.

4.

The confusion over Mr Wilson's role no doubt arises over the fact that he is based in Hong Kong, but plays no part in air service negotiations involving Hong Kong. In considering the future of the post, it might be worth suggesting that DOT and MAED look at other possible locations in the area, particularly in view of the fact that costs in Hong Kong, for both office and residential accommodation, are now quite astronomical. The argument in the past that Hong Kong was more conveniently located than any other city in the region is now perhaps outweighed by the financial considerations and better air connections throughout South East Asia and the Far East. I believe also that Mr Wilson had strong personal reasons for wanting to be based in Hong Kong.

1. Morrice

P Morrice

17 July 1980

Hong Kong and General Department

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE