TNAG-1177-FCO40-1479-Air-services-between-Hong-Kong-and-South-East-Asia-1982 — Page 114

RESTRICTED

J W D Gray Esq

MAED

Gt George Street

4

London SW1

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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DEPARTMENT OF TRADE

1 VICTORIA STREET

LONDON SWIH OET

TELEPHONE DIRECT LINE 01 215 3229

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SWITCHBOARD 01 215 7877

18 February 1982

Dear John,

>

I think that you will have seen a copy of Kuala Lumpur telegram Allot 1 about an approach from the Secretary General in the Malaysian Ministry of Transport to the Commercial Counsellor in our High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. I attach a draft reply, and should be grateful if you would arrange for its despatch as soon as possible, provided that you see no objection.

2

I am convinced that we should not disclose our hand in advance of proper air services negotiations. Quite apart from the tactical unwisdom of doing so, we would get into difficulties with our own airlines and with the Hong Kong Government if the British Government on its own gave any commitment to moving towards the Malaysian position.

The right approach, I believe, is to manoeuvre the Malaysians into requesting air services talks in the normal way.

3

Yours

eva

Chuistopher

C W ROBERTS

enc

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THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR

40 YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION No. 27(1)

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