DRAFT
CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
HONG KONG REGISTER OF SHIPPING
56
We have carefully considered the comments on the
Consultative Document enclosed with the Director of
Marine's letter of 1 June, made after discussions with
Hong Kong shipowners.
We note the view that if only the proposals contained in
the Consultative Document were to be put into effect it
would be "exceptional" for shipowners to register more
but
ships in Hong Kong if "a much larger measure of agreement"
could be reached a separate Hong Kong register might
contain some 10.9m gross registered tons by 1975 or so.
At the same time, we consider it essential to demonstrate
that any new arrangements do not involve lowering
standards of equipment or safe manning.
Accordingly we make the following proposals in order to
secure agreement:
(1) Masters of vessels on the Hong Kong register
would be British with the requisite British
or equivalent Commonwealth certificate.
The second-in-command of vessels on the Hong
Kong register would either have to be British
or bona fide Hong Kong residents holding the
(2)
/requisite
CONFIDENTIAL