3
21leet on Floyd's Register
to the
8. We feared that the Japanese yards might offer a package deal including classification with NHK which could be prejudiciel interests of Floyd's Register. We now hope that by confining delegation of statutory surveys to those who receive dolegations Trom DEI, she position of I could be maintained but I ought to iiscues this with Lloyd's. The Japanese could hardly complain as they use NAK exclusively.
Hon Hong Survey Service
The Hong Hong Survey Service is undermanned and, if a separate register is set up, many more surveyors will be required; some may need to be stationed in Japan. High grade DII Surveyors, with romineration and conditions comparable to those of the senior staff in Hong Kong, will need to be seconded to Hong Kong and to have final authority over the special examinations and the acceptance of safety equipment and materials. I think this could be secured, without too strong objection by the Director of Marine, by appointing seconded staff to Principal Examiner positions in Hong Kong as final arbiters on examination results and by taking the point that as safety equipment and materials would be accepted for the much larger UK register, our people must have final authority over decisions. Huch discussion and negotiation is, however, necessary before these personnel arrangements can be finalised.
The Next Step
10.
the team's report;
We now need
(a)
(b)
(c) (0)
(e)
to draft a new consultative document containing proposals on the lines of this minute;
to send these two documents to the Governor of Hong Kong; to discuss the proposals with both sides of the industry hero, with the British Marine Equipment Council and Lloyd's Register;
In the light of reactions decide on publication.
If this is agreed, we shall press on as quickly as possible but it is bound to take some time and we would be unwise to lay ourselves open to the accusation of inadequate consultation. It is possible that the Hong Kong shipowners will decide against proceeding on these lines but I en sure that anything less stringent would make it impossible to maintain standards appropriate to the Red Ensign. We are pursuing the possibility you mentioned of allowing Hong Kong to have its own flag and its own conditions for which we could not be answerable but the first reactions of the 200 are very adverse.
Conclusion
17
I am sorry to have writton at such length but, despibo the ou sellation of the Prime Minister'a visit to the Pac Bach, I felt thut you and our Ministers would want a full and carly report. I am away tomorrow but will be back immediately after Christmas and would be glad to receive any comments then.
W
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