6
Private Secretary Secretary
Type NSID RuyL
17/m
AKK 121/10 RECEIVED IN KAGISTRY NO. 51
19 MAR 1/81
DECK OFFICER
INDEX
منه
REGISTRY
PA Action Taken
BRITISH SHIPBUILDERS' SALES TO HONG KONG AND CHINA
Problem
1.
To reply to a letter from Mr R Atkinson, Chairman of British
Shipbuilders, to the Secretary of State concerning the sale of
ships to Hong Kong and China.
Recommendation
2. I recommend that the Secretary of State reply on the lines
of the attached draft. FED concur.
Background
3. The letter from Mr Atkinson is self-explanatory. The Hong Kong
market is a lucrative one and British Shipbuilders have won recent
orders in the face of strong Japanese competition. However, Japanese
shipbuilders still receive the majority of new orders from Hong
Kong owners.
4.
The letter arrived after the Secretary of State's meeting with
the Governor of Hong Kong, but is, nevertheless, timely in view of
the Secretary of State's own visit to Hong Kong and China later
this month. Lord Carrington will in fact be seeing Sir Y K Pao
during the visit. We will provide a brief for that. I suggest
that in addition Sir M MacLehose be sent copies of the correspondence
with Mr Atkinson.
5. Mr Atkinson copied his letter to the Secretary of State for
Trade. We have confirmed with his Office that Mr Biffen will not
be replying separately.
Ber
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
16 March 1981
cc PS/Mr Biffen, DOT
Mr Hobbs, CRE4/2, DOT FED
MAED