to the UK register are maintained and this is likely
to involve some rejections especially with key posts
such as second-in-command, unless a British examination
be taken.
3.
Equally it will be necessary to ensure that UK
standards of crew accommodation are maintained and
also of safety equipment; here we envisage that
equipment approved for the Hong Kong register will
also be acceptable for the UK register.
40
One detail that needs clarification is the
nationality and qualifications of radio officers on
which we should like to have as soon as possible your
proposals for discussion with the union concerned.
We have not yet put to the unions the further easement
mentioned above and this is likely to be sharply
criticised, so please ask the Hong Kong shipowners to
treat this as in confidence for the moment.
5. We are not prepared to entertain any change in the
British nationality requirement for Masters and the
Ministry of Defence strongly supports our view. While
the new arrangements would, of course, be reviewed
after they have operated for a trial period, by which
time we hope that our discussions with EEC countries
would have yielded results, it should not be assumed
that this would lead to further relaxations on our
side, particularly with regard to Masters. We have
/already gone