LAST
RE:
REXT
PS/SECRETARY OF STATE
28
RECEI ED IP REGISTRY Mo. 51
5 APR 1974
HKK 21/3
Reference...
cc PS/PUSS CARS
Mr Goothilla to see one interests safeguarded
Sir Peter Thornton
Mr Hubback - Dep Sec Mr Wakefield - BOTB
Mr Manson
Mr Gummer
SG MAR SBP
are
Mr Burbridge MAR1 (on
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Mr Standen MAR4 Dr Cowley
Capt Anderson
Mr Harris BOTB Miss Welch CRE2 Mrs Wicks MAR1 -
S
MR FROST - SP. Mr A Stuart
FCO
4.
arrival)
3012
CODE IN TĮ
PROPOSED SEPARATE HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER
1.
Sir Peter Thornton has asked me to make a submission to the Secretary of State on this subject to which much thought has been given over the past two years. Mr Y K Pao, who is one of the biggest shipowners in the world, is the prime mover and will probably be lobbying Ministers on it very shortly.
2.
(w /27 1
w/2211
3.
I attach: -
(a)
a background note which is inevitably rather lengthy as the subject is a complex ons;
(b) a draft telegram for the Secretary of State to send
to the Governor of Hong Kong if he agrees with our proposals;
(c)
a copy of the visiting team's report (there are four annexes which are not attached); the main recommenda- tions are on pages 8, 9 and 11 and I would not ask Ministers to read more than that.
Mr Prescott, when in Opposition, was much concerned about this proposal. It has been modified since then to introduce a special written examination for Chinese-speaking aliens wishing to be accepted as officers below the rank of Master on Hong Kong ships. Informal soundings I have taken with Mr John Slater General Secretary of the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers Association, suggest that he regards this as a considerable improvement but he cannot commit seafaring unions to withdraw objections. It is possible that this proposal will be unacceptable to Hong Kong owners and that the separate register proposal will then be dropped.
4. It would, I think, be helpful if the Secretary of State were to call a meeting to discuss this matter with the FUSS CA&S, Mr Prescott, Sir Peter Thornton and officials. The PCO is anxious that we should not drop the proposal altogether and would wish to bring in their Ministers should we wish to do so.
J N ARCHER
MAK, 26 March 1974