CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY TO PEKING
UK/PRC AIR SERVICES: VISIT BY SIR COLIN MARSHALL, BA
1. SIR COLIN MARSHALL IS VISITING PEKING IN LATE SEPTEMBER. YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH HIS VISIT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
2. YOU WILL WISH TO BE AWARE THAT SIR COLIN MARSHALL IS TO VISIT PEKING 25 TO 29 SEPTEMBER. ORIGINALLY HE WAS ΤΟ ATTEND A CONFERENCE, NOW CANCELLED, BUT BA HAVE LEFT THE VISIT IN PLACE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WARM UP TRUNK ROUTE AIR SERVICES RELATIONS WITH THE CHINESE IF THE RIGHT INTERLOCUTOR CAN BE FOUND. BA FEEL MARSHALL COULD USEFULLY ASSURE THE CHINESE THAT BA REMAIN COMMITTED TO SERVING PEKING AND WOULD WISH TO IMPROVE THEIR SERVICE, PERHAPS WITH THE RESUMPTION OF A SECOND SERVICE TO PEKING AND WITH FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS (NORTHERN ROUTE, POINTS BEYOND PEKING) SUBJECT TO THE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO THE PRESENT UK/PRC ARRANGEMENTS.
3. THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT WOULD NOT BE TO REPORT ON OR ARGUE FOR THE TAIWAN SERVICE BUT MARSHALL WOULD, OF COURSE, HAVE DEFENSIVE BRIEFING ON THAT ISSUE. BA HOPE A VISIT AT THIS TIME WOULD HELP TO THAW ANY FROST IN RELATIONS ARISING FROM THE IMMINENT INTRODUCTION OF TAIWAN SERVICES.
4.
BA WOULD WELCOME YOUR ADVICE ON WHO MARSHALL MIGHT SEE MINISTER, DGCA, HEAD OF AIR CHINA ET AL AND ANY IDEAS YOU MAY HAVE ON WHAT HE COULD MOST USEFULLY SAY. MARSHALL WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CALL ON YOU DURING HIS VISIT IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE.
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