Dr Cowley MAR
23
REF
NEXI REF
RECEIF
TN Referen
REGIST PV No. 51
CC
Mr Gummer SBP
- 5 APR 1974
Miss Welch CRE2
Mrs Wicks
MAR
Mr Stuart
FCO
HKK 21/3.
(26)
At Mr Archer's meeting on 20 March, I was asked to let you have comments on any points in Annexe 2 which might require amendment if it were to be sent to the Governor of Hong Kong. I have now read the Annexe and would suggest the following changes in any text which is forwarded. These are intended to protect our negotiating position with both Japan and Hong Kong.
Page 4 Recommendation 2).
Delete "requirements" Insert "Specifications".
Recommendation 4). Delete "Hong Kong/UK Government". Insert "DTI".
Page 35 Paragraph 3. Delete "UK/Hong Kong". Insert "DTI"
Pages 45-48 I was not aware, until reading this Annexe, that there was any
possibility of the Hong Kong Government being allowed to approve Japanese radio equipment. This would have much more serious commercial consequences for the British marine equipment industry than changes on the safety equipment issue alone. Electronic equipment in general, and radio and radar equipment in particular, form the bulk of British marine equipment exports to Japan and we (and I am sure Department of Industry) would be very reluctant indeed to see any further relaxation of the rules to allow Japanese manufacturers to be given DTI approval (particularly if this meant they could have access to the UK Register). I hope that you would agree to delete these pages and allow us time to consider more precisely what you have in mind in this sector.
Page 49 Given our agreement that the DTI will continue to be responsible for testing in Japan. I think Decision 2 and Recommendation 2 should be deleted entirely; possibly to be replaced by a similar statement and recommendation to the effect that the DTI should send a surveyor to Japan to whom Japanese manufacturers should apply in the normal manner by paying a fully commercial fee for type-testing. I will happily draft if you wish to keep a Decision 2; you may, on the other hand consider that this whole page could be deleted and the points made covered in the covering letter.
Page 51-4 It is not normal for records of meetings with other Governments to
be passed to third parties and I would feel happier if we respected the implicit confidence of your discussions with the Japanese Ministry of Transport by deleting this record from the Annexe. I certainly think that expressions of policy as outlined in paragraph 3 should not go outside the Department.
Page 63 Delete para 6. This does not accord with the policy we have agreed sub- sequently and would be embarrassing if placed in the hands of the Hong Kong Government.
Page 67 Paragraph A.6.3.4. should be deleted. As explained above 1 think we
shall need to consider very carefully any suggestion that we make DTI approval for Japanese radio equipment any easier than it is at present.
I have already sent Mrs Wicks some suggested amendments to the main report which no doubt she has passed on to you.
*1177 D.185271 30M 12/73 TP Gp.668
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