DRAFT
MEMORANDUM TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
HONG KONG REGISTER OF SHIPPING
The UK Government has carefully considered the Hong Kong
Government's comments on the Consultative Document, made
after discussions with Hong Kong shipowners.
The UK Government notes that it is the view of the Hong Kong
Government that if only the proposals contained in the
Consultative Document were to be put into effect it would
be exceptional" for shipowners to register ships on this
account in Hong Kong, On the other hand the Hong Kong
Government believes that if "a much larger measure of agree-
ment" could be reached a separate Hong Kong register might
contain some 10.9m gross registered tons by 1975 or so.
The UK Government is prepared to make the following new
proposals in order to secure agreement.
First, the UK Government would second 6 surveyors to Hong Kong,
These would comprise a mixed-discipline group of 5 senior
surveyors under a surveyor equivalent in rank to Deputy Chief.
The surveyors would be paid by the Hong Kong Government (increased registration fee revenue should cover the cost) but
would be responsible directly to the Surveyor General of UK
Marine Survey Service. The surveyors would be concerned with
safety equipment, crew accommodation and manning matters.
In our view the proposal would have the following advantages:
1. it would silence or minimise in advance any
criticism that the Hong Kong register of shipping had
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