(LOSE)
ford Bridges,
10 Downing Street, S.V.1.
13 September, 1973
In my letter of September 5, I mentioned that my iinister was due to meet the Governor of Hong Kong shortly. This meeting took place yesterday, and resulted in agreement along the lines of my earlier letter. The Governor accepted that IG could not be asked to commit itself to a new registor of shipping until it knew that the Hong Kong owners would transfer a worthwhile tonuage cuto it. He believed that the omers, once they had geen at first hand the kind of standards we would seek to maintain, would be willing to make firm commitments about moving tonnage onto the proposed new register; and was content that a decision should await the report of the team of marine surveyors we are sending out.
Jegnubile you may wish to see the attached Press Statement which we are issuing today, with the Governor's agreement, in view of the speculation which continues to appear in the British and Hong Kong press.
A.d. Lanc
105