00 HONG KONG
GRS
640
SECRET
SECRET
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
27 JAN1984
15268
1
#
FM FCO 251525Z JANUARY 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 134 OF 25 JANUARY
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
FUTURE OF HONG KONG:
THE CHINESE PLAN
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
и n CM 3111
WORKING PAPER ON SHIPPING
CURRENT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED.
THERE WOULD BE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. THE HONG KONG SPECIAL
ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WOULD REMAIN A FREE PORT. IN RETAINING ITS
STATUS AS A FREE PORT, THE SAR'S EXISTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF
MANAGEMENT WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED. AS HONG KONG, CHINA', THE
SAR WOULD CONCLUDE APPROPRIATE AGREEMENTS. IT COULD ON ITS OWN
JOIN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND CONFERENCES NOT LIMITED TO
STATES.
IMPLICATIONS REGISTRY OF SHIPS
1. THE HONG KONG SAR WOULD RETAIN AND CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER ITS
OWN SHIPPING REGISTER UNDER EXISTING LOCAL LEGISLATION, ADAPTED
AS NECESSARY TO REFLECT ITS CHANGED STATUS. GIVEN THE HIGH
DEGREE OF AUTONOMY WHICH THE HONG KONG SAR WOULD ENJOY, ITS
INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE IN SHIPPING MATTERS, THE HIGH STANDARD
OF ITS MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPANSION OF
THE HONG KONG OWNED AND REGISTERED FLEET, THE HONG KONG PORT OF
REGISTRY WOULD BE GIVEN A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTHORITY COMPARED WITH
OTHER CHINESE PORTS. SHIPS REGISTERED IN HONG KONG (CHINA) WOULD
HAVE THE RIGHT TO FLY A SPECIAL FLAG TO REFLECT THE REGION'S
AUTONOMOUS STATUS. (SEE THE WORKING PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS).
MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
2. THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION EXISTING IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO 1
JULY 1997 AND ITS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE WOULD BE RETAINED. IT
WOULD CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRAINING AND
CERTIFICATION OF SHIPS' OFFICERS AND CREWS: THE SURVEY AND
CERTIFICATION OF HONG KONG REGISTERED SHIPS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
See
38
1
SECRET