2
ho do not hold British certificates.
Accordingly, the Hong Kong
Government themselves suggested that a team should go out from
here in the Autumn to interview some of the Officers concerned,
see something of the type-testing arrangements in Japanese yards
(which would be helpful in the U.K. context as well) and prepare,
with their administration, memoranda for guidance on the new
arrangements. In view of the need to ensure that high standards
are maintained, I believe that this is a wise move and that we
might not to be irrevocably committed until this has been done
so little is known at present about the standards adopted by many
of the Hong Kong shipowners, particularly the smaller ones.
#
Meanwhile, our discussions with the seafaring unions here have not
been assisted by leaks in the Hong Kong press, which refer to
YK Pau's contacts with the Prime Minister, and which have been
taken up by Lloyd's List sce enclosed press cuttings which in
the case of the Lloyd's 1st cutting, illustrate the strength-of::
feeling by the General Secretary of the Merchant Navy & Airline
Officers' Association. My Minister is considering the timing of
a public announcement in the light of those press reports, the
meetings with both sides of the industry, and the views of the
Hong Kong Government, and I would expect us to be in a position
to make one this month; but as I have said, we do not believe that
this should go beyong an agreement in principle at this stage.
Page 75Page 76