CONFIDENTIAL
7. IT IS RELEVANT THAT, WHEN WE WERE NEGOTIATING WITH THE
THE CHINESE ABOUT THE HONG KONG/CANTON HOVERFERRY SERVICE, CHINESE AUTHORITIES INSISTED THAT THE VESSELS USED ON THE SERVICE BE REGISTERED IN HONG KONG AND THAT THEY FLY THE RED ENSIGN DURING THE JOURNEY UP THE PEARL RIVER. THE PORT OF REGISTRY (HONG KONG) IS CLEARLY MARKED ON THE STERN OF THE VESSELS USED. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE CHINESE ACCEPT HONG KONG AS A BRITISH PORT OF REGISTRY AND THAT THEY ARE NOW MORE RELAXED ABOUT THE POSITION OF HONG KONG THAT THEY WERE WHEN THE AGREEMENT WAS LAST DISCUSSED WITH THEM.
MACLEHOSE
i
FILES: MAED
HK & G D FED
PS
PS/MR JUDD PS/PUS SIR A. DUFF MR BUTLER MR CORFAZZI MISS BROWN MR MURRAY
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON
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