GRPS 500
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 127645Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
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NICK21/2
TO ROUTINE F C O TELNO 759 OF 12TH JULY, 1973.
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MY TELNO 742 AND YOUR TELNO 662: HONG KONG REGISTER OF SHIPPING.
THE 2 MILLION TONS RELATES TO WHAT THE OWNERS EXPECT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE NEW REGISTER AS AND WHEN IT OPENS IN, SAY, 18 MONTHS OR 2 YEARS TIME. OF THIS AT LEAST THREE QUARTERS WOULD
BE PAO'S.
>
2. PAO ASSURES ME THAT, ON THE BASIS SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPHS 7 AND 9 OF MY TELNO 724, WITHIN 5 YEARS FROM NOW HE WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT AT LEAST 3 MILLION TONS OF HIS OWN SHIPS ON THE REGISTER, AND THAT IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WE COULD COUNT ON A REGISTER OF AT LEAST
4 MILLION TONS.
3. THEREAFTER THE BUILD-UP WOULD DEPEND, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, UPON THE FACTORS MENTIONED IN PARA. 7 OF MY TELNO 724.
4, WHILE I REALISE THAT THE DTI HAVE TO HAVE SOME ESTIMATE OF TONNAGE IN ORDER TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE GAME IS WORTH THE CANDLE, IT COULD BE MISLEADING TO POUNCE TOO FIERCELY ON THE FIGURES PROVIDED. YOU MUST REALISE THE UNCERTAINTIES CONFRONTING THE OWNERS. IN THE
THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW FIRST PLACE THERE IS THE PROBLEM OF MANNING.
THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE AND HIS DTI HELPERS WILL INTERPRET THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. ON ONE HYPOTHESIS THE PROBLEM COULD BE SMALL, RELATED TO A LIMITED TONNAGE, WHILE ON ANOTHER THEIR SHIPS COULD BE IMMOBILISED. SECONDLY, THERE ARE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS RELATING TO
THESE TOO DEPEND CHANGING THE REGISTRATION OF SHIPS NOW IN SERVICE.
TO SOME EXTENT ON THE DETAILED INTERPRETATION OF THE SAFETY AND OTHER CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, AND THE CONSEQUENT LENGTH OF WITHDRAWAL FROM SERVICE FOR MODIFICATIONS AND REFIT. THIRDLY, THERE IS THE ATTITUDE OF FINANCIAL BACKERS,
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CONFIDENTIAL
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