i
SRUTION
CYPHER CAT A
FM F C O 241910Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 1065 OF 24 NOVEMBER.
YOUR TELNO. 1139: HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER.
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WILFORD.
1. THE DTI'S PROPOSALS WERE SUBMITTED TO THE PRIME MINISTER WITH
A DISSENTING MINUTE FROM US. THE DTI PROPOSAL WAS THAT THERE
SHOULD BE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU ON THE DELEGATION OF SAFETY CONTROLS: THAT YOU SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE MORE USE OF EXISTING POWERS
TO ACCEPT FOREIGN CERTIFICATES OF SECOND OFFICERS AND ENGINEERS:
BUT THAT THE TRANSFER OF THE REGISTER WAS NOT JUSTIFIED OR DESIRABLE.
2. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS NOW RULED THAT THE DTI SHOULD LOOK AGAIN
AT THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING A SEPARATE REGISTER, THAT THE, LARGELY GENERAL, CONSIDERATIONS IN THE FCO MINUTE ARE IMPORTANT:
AND THAT HE IS NOT CONVINCED THAT THE CREATION OF A SEPARATE
REGISTER WOULD DAMAGE OUR NATIONAL INTEREST TO ANY SIGNIFICANT
EXTENT. WE NOW AWAIT REVISED DTI PROPOSALS WHICH WE HOPE WILL
BE POSITIVE.
3. THE ABOVE IS FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS STAGE. WE
WILL INFORM YOU IF ANYTHING DEFINITE EMERGES BEFORE YOU SEE
Y K PAO.
DOUGLAS-HOME
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