RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO ROUTINE PEKING
TELNO 122
OF 13170OZ FEBRUARY 92
AND TO ROUTINE HONG KONG
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18.292
пок
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117217
MDLOAN 7457
1. dc: Mr. West, Sec (AS), MOD.
2.
2
HONG KONG FOR POLITICAL ADVISER
RAF: CANTON AS HONG KONG DIVERSION AIRFIELD
1.
THE CURRENT RAF DIVERSION AIRPORT FOR HONG KONG IS MANILA.
MOD HAVE APPROACHED US ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF NOMINATING CANTON
IN MANILA'S PLACE. THE MAIN REASONS FOR WISHING TO SWITCH ARE:
(I) THE RECENT VOLCANIC ERUPTION HAS DEMONSTRATED PRACTICAL PROBLEMS WHICH CAN APPLY TO MANILA (WHICH IS IN ADDITION MORE AFFECTED BY TYPHOONS ETC THAN HONG KONG)
(II) THE CHANGING POLITICAL SCENE IN THE PHILIPPINES MAKES IT
DESIRABLE TO EXAMINE OTHER OPTIONS.
(III) CANTON IS AROUND 500 MILES CLOSER TO HONG KONG THAN MANILA:
AIRCRAFT COULD CARRY LESS FUEL AND A GREATER PAYLOAD.
2. DURING THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN THE PHILIPPINES, EMERGENCY
ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE (VIA THE DA IN PEKING) TO USE CANTON AS AN
ALTERNATIVE DIVERSION AIRPORT FOR RAF TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT. CANTON
IS THE DIVERSION AIRPORT FOR A NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL
AIRLINES (INCLUDING BA). MOD THINK THAT IN PRACTICE THE USE OF
CANTON BY RAF AIRCRAFT WOULD BE VERY SMALL PERHAPS ONCE A YEAR.
3. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW IF YOU SEE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THIS PROPOSAL, OR DIFFICULTIES OVER PUTTING IT TO THE CHINESE (THIS WOULD BE DONE BY OUR DA). THIS IS ENTIRELY A PRACTICAL, TECHNICAL MATTER, AND WOULD BE PRESENTED AS SUCH. NONETHELESS THERE COULD BE SOME WHO WOULD TRY TO READ MORE INTO IT. AND WE MIGHT NOT WISH TO EMBARK ON THIS IF IT COULD GIVE ANY LEVERAGE TO THE CHINESE.
HURD
NFF
073/5
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