CLINE
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Reference HKK 2112.
Nr. Standen HAR 1
C.C.
163
VATS
r/S Secretary A & S
Mr. Hubback Dep Sec Dr. Brigstocke SP
Mr. Wakefield BOTE Fr. Horman M
Mr. Marchant SBP
Mr. Hanson 3G
Miss Lackey CRE 3
Mr. Kadigen HAR 4
Dr. Coyley ESC (& team) Mrs. Wicks MAR 1
Mr. A. Stuart FCO/
HONG KONG REGISTER
Mr. Menson and I discussed the state of play with Mr. Thornton on 14,12.73. The main questions we need to follow-up before preparing a brief for him, the Minister and No. 10 by 20.12.73 are as follows:
(2)
(1) Is there any possibility that we could set Hong Kong entirely
free to run its own register under a Hong Kong fleg so that, while technically a dependant territory, it would be on all fours for this purpose with Singapore? Fr. Thornton mentione! that Rholesia, while a dependant territory, was a full member of the GATT. Mrs. wicks is looking into this with the FCO but, while we should ride it hard, I think it is an outsider.
Should we think in terms of setting special examinations of a more practical nature than normal for experienced officers on Hong Kong ships who are aliens and do not hold British or Hong Kong certificates? These would be for posts below Master level and might be set in the Chinese language though e knowledge of spoken Enlish would have to be demonstrated. There is, I understood, a precedent for this in the case of Latvian and Lithuanian seamen after the last wer. Dr. Cowley, who telephoned me at home at the weekend, had been thinking along similer lines,
(3) Although we should not depart from the principle of approving foreign equipment for UK and Hong Long registered ships which satisfy our requirements on safety considerations, ought we to seek some reciprocal agreement from the Japanese, possibly covering marine equipment generally, in return for a positive initiative on our behalf to approve their equipment? Mr. Vekefield who specialised in exports to Jaren in the BOTB, is looking into this having regard to the present export position as regards marine equipment.
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(4) How much is there in the risk that by ensing our requirements
1- as moesnts (4) above, we would be improving the competitiva position of the liaponese shingands and the NK classification society. If, as seems likely, axports of UK equipment to be
Uk Parted to ships built in Japan are small, there may not be much in it. As rerande Nik if we insisted that shalubong su vers chould be delegated by lon Fon only to Lloyd's Resistor (onendale with lood lino and cerco ship safety equirment being delerated alan to the other 4 societies now topoved for theça pounys) we might be shle to counteract
green turn which icke might coníine), o shall need to diemust
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