TNAG-2312-FCO40-3356-Air-services-between-Hong-Kong-and-South-Korea-1991 — Page 50

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development.

The British side are of the view that the present

proposal is fully consistent with the provisions of the Joint

Declaration which enjoins Hong Kong to be maintained as a centre

of international and regional aviation.

4. As the Chinese are aware, scheduled air services between Hong

Kong and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are currently provided under

the UK: ROK Air Services Agreement (ASA) signed on 5 March 1984.

This ASA was included in a list of 24 UK ASAS shown to the

Chinese side during the negotiation of Section IX of Annex I to

the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong.

It was explained that these ASAs would need to be separated so

that the routes to and from Hong Kong could be contained in free-

standing agreements between Hong Kong and the countries

concerned. During previous exchanges, the Chinese side asked to

be consulted when the need to negotiate a Hong Kong/ROK ASA arose

which the British side undertook to do. The British side would

now wish to authorise Hong Kong to negotiate a separate Air

Services Agreement with the Republic of Korea, but believe it

would be useful, because of the unusual diplomatic position, if

the two sides exchanged views before any negotiations begin. We

would be grateful to learn Chinese views on this question.

office of the British Senior Representative

Sino-British Joint Liaison Group