IMMEDIATE CYPHER/CAT A
FM FCO 961020Z
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 670030Z
CONFIDENTIAL
JOF Click
$3
IN
N 1 31
SEP 173
DA
HK K21/2.
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TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONGKONG TEL NO 878 OF 6/9/73. HONG KONG REGISTER OF SHIPPING.
$8) FURTHER TO THE LETTER DATED 31 AUGUST TO CLINTON, FROM STUART,
ENCLOSING DRAFT HEADS OF AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE, THE MINISTER OF AEROSPACE AND SHIPPING IS MUCH CONCERNED THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE SUCCESSIVE MOVES HE HAS MADE WITH A VIEW TO REACHING AGREEMENT, HONGKONG SHIPOWNERS ARE STILL NOT PREPARED TO GIVE ASSURANCES ON THE TONNAGE THEY WOULD COMMIT TO A SEPARATE REGISTER. HE IS NOT DISPOSED TO CONCLUDE AN AGREEMENT EVEN IN PRINCIPLE UNTIL THERE ARE FIRM ASSURANCES ON THIS POINT. THE MINISTER WILL BE DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE GOVERNOR NEXT WEEK. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THE IMPRESSION SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN THAT THE DRAFT HEADS OF AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE MINISTER WITHOUT ASSURANCES REGARDING REGISTRATION. EQUALLY IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID FURTHER LEAKS IN THE HONG KONG PRESS, WHICH HAVE BEEN TAKEN UP BY LLOYD'S LIST AND ARE MAKING DIFFICULT CONSULTATIONS WITH OUR SEAFARING UNIONS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
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FILES
COPIES TO:
HKIOD
M & TD
MR WILFORD
MR WHITEHEAD
PS/MINISTER AEROSPACE & SHIPPING
MR CRANLEY CNSLOW, PUSS, AEROSPACE
MR HUBBACK, CB. SHELL MEX HOUSE MR STANDEN (MAR.1.)SUNLEY HOUSE
MR HUNT (MAR 1) SUNLEY HOUSE
SHIPPI
ALL
DTI
MR MADIGAN (MAR.4) SUNLEY HOUSE MR FROST (S.P.1. ADELPHI
SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE C/O HKI O D.
MR A FLETCHER, C/O H K GOVT OFFICE
LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL