CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFT
17/2/1
Mr Y K Pao, during his visit to the Prime Minister on 7 June, suggested the
setting up of a separate Hong Kong register of shipping and the Prime Minister
undertook to have this idea examined. Although technically possible, officials
consider that the potential disadvantages of implementing the idea outweight
the advantages.
REGISTRATION
Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 Hong Kong is a port of British registry:
ships registered there are British ships and must comply with the safety
standards and manning requirements laid down for British ships. The DTI
are at present consulting UK interests about the possibility of revising
the 1894 provisions on registration, conscious of the Rochdale Committee'a
view that the registration provisions in respect of the Commonwealth would
increasingly appear anachronistic and should be reviewed. However, revision
would involve re-negotiation of part of the Commonwealth Merchant Shipping
Agreement 1931 which would take time and changes in the legislation are
therefore unlikely in the near future: in any case the provisions relating
to colonies would not necessarily be affected,
The arrangements envisaged by Mr Pao might more quickly be brought about by
the creation of a separate Hong Kong registor. This could be done by local
statute, confirmed by an Order in Council. The nationality requirements for
senior officers, and the specifications for materials and equipment, might
then be different from those laid down for British ships.
CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT STANDARDS
At present, Hong Kong applies high standards, comparable with UK standards,
for the construction of ship, for materials and equipment, for fire appliances