CONFIDENTIAL
In order to assist with the very considerable amount of
work involved and to demonstrate that no lowering of
standards would take place, we would second a number of
experienced surveyors to Hong Kong. These would comprise
a mixed discipline group probably headed by a surveyor
equivalent in rank to Deputy Chief. The surveyors would
be paid by the Hong Kong Government (increased regis-
tration fee revenue should cover the cost), would form
part of the Director of Marine's staff but would be able
to have matters referred to the Surveyor-General in
London where decisions contemplated were felt to
involve a significant difference in standards than for
UK ships. These surveyors would be concerned with all
matters affecting the acceptance of safety equipment
manufactured outside the UK, crew accommodation and
acceptance of certificates under paragraph (3) above.
The Hong Kong register would until further notice be
limited to the ships of existing Hong Kong shipowners,
returns from whom are covered by Appendix I to the
Director of Marine's Note enclosed with his letter of
1 June 1973. This would partly be dictated by the work
load (an extra 10m gross registered tons) but would
also avoid the difficulties foreseen here that there
would be a flight to the Hong Kong register in which UK
shipowners would be at a disadvantage. At a later
stage, when EEC discussions are further advanced, the
/question
CONFIDENTIAL
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