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standards or by setting up a "flag of convenience" under the Red Ensign;
b) the possibility that egmore flexible manning
requirements would tempt owners with ships registered in the UK to re-register them in the Dependent Territory.
Various arguments (eg the anomalous position of Bermuda) can be brought forward to offset the DTI's views, but in the present context I recommend that the Secretary of State should simply indicate that we will look carefully at Mr Ludwig's proposals with a view to calculating the balance of advantage. The wider implications, which involve our relations with the international shipping
community as well as the interests of our dependent territories, can then be studied inter-departmentally before a final Ministerial decision is sought.
20 February 1973
cc:
J W Maslen
Marine and Transport Department
Sir Duncan Watson
Mr Whitehead
Mr C S Roberts (Caribbean Dept)
Mr N BJ Huijsman (WIAD)
Mr AC Stuart (HKIOD)✔
Mr J Wilson (WAD)
Mr H Halliwell (Consular Dept)
PS to Lord Balneil
Mr G R W Brigstocke SPD, DTI
Mr J N Archer Marine Division, DTI
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