GRS155A
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM F C O 091403Z
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JUKK 21/2
CONFIDENTIAL
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 785 OF 9 AUGUST, 1973.
FROM GOVERNOR.
1. I HAVE SEEN A COPY OF DTI'S TELEGRAM NUMBER MAST 1 OF
7 AUGUST FROM ARCHER.
2. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT THE BEST WAY OF FINDING OUT WHAT THE DTI REALLY HAVE IN MIND WOULD BE TO GET THEM TO SEND OUT A TEAM OF EXAMINERS FOR A 3 OR 4 MONTH PERIOD FAIRLY SOON. LOCAL SHIP OWNERS COULD PRESENT TO THE EXAMINERS A MUMBER OF SECONDS IN COMMAND AND WE WOULD SEE HOW MANY OF THEM PASSED. IT WOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THOSE THAT PASSED WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE GIVEN CCRTIFICATES OF COMPETENCE ONCE THE NEW LEGISLATION WAS BROUGHT IN. I FEEL THAT WITHOUT SUCH A TRIAL RUN IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHETHER THE NEW REGISTER WOULD BE A SUFFICIENT SUCCESS TO JUSTIFY THE WORK INVOLVED AND THE POLITICAL RISK OF INTRODUCING A REGISTER
THAT MIGHT ATTRACT FEW SHIPS,
2.1 HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THE DT! ABOUT THIS, AND LEAVE IT TO YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER THIS IS WORTH TRYING,
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