CONFIDENTIAL
THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR
40 YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION No... 274....
Kong, Peking and Shanghai. But was not possible to agree details and this aroused some concern in Hong kong. Currently an imbalance in favour of Chinese airline, CAAC, who operate over 50 scheduled flights per week from China to Hong Kong, compared with 3 scheduled CPA flights to Shanghai and one British Airways scheduled flight and
one CPA charter flight to Peking each week. Important that a fair agreement is reached at an early date, in particular a fair role for
Cathay Pacific Airways.
His Objective
a)
Kong.
Possibly to warn against too rapid political evolution in Hong
b) Possibly to seek reassurance that the reduction of the garrison in Hong Kong from 5 to 4 battalions will not have an adverse effect on stability in Hong Kong and to establish whether the garrison will
be further reduced in the run up to 1997.
c)
Possibly to persuade us to reconsider our nomination
of 3 British recipients of Harold Weill
medal.
Your Response
a) Must respond to widespread demand for greater degree of participation in government in Hong Kong. But moving very carefully, and seeking to build on existing institutions. Development so far entirely consistent with the principle of Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong. Believe what we are doing is likely to be positively helpful in long term to prosperity and stability, and to success of our joint enterprise.
b) Garrison only being reduced to its pre-1980 level. Extra Gurkha battalion raised as short-term measure because of the illegal immigration situation that prevailed at the time. Situation now no longer requires the extra men. You can rest assured that we shall fully carry out our responsibility to preserve Hong Kong's stabilit
i18 aae
CONFIDENTIAL
/right
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.