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(f) it should be as
these constraints
their
attractive
as possible to shipowners within
and allow them to register and de-register
ships as quickly as possible with a minimum of
red-tape'.
Comments were invited and have been received from Hong Kong shipping
and related industries. These are now being considered by the Hong
Kong Government.
Chinese views
3.
The Embassy in Peking gave the Chinese a copy of the document
in advance of publication. So far we have received no official indication of their views. When the Hong Kong Director of Marine
visited Peking in September he was told by the Chinese Ministry of
Communications that an
an official response to the proposals could only originate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His impression was
that the Chinese were agreeable in broad terms to the general principles in the consultative document, but wished to reserve their
position pending the receipt of more detailed information. Mr Ridley, Secretary of State for Transport, has subsequently
visited Peking (22
The Chinese Minister
Communications told him that the Chinese response to the paper would be passed to us through the Joint Liaison Group (JLG).
4.
-
25
September).
of
In the light of Chinese views, and of separate discussions to
be held between Hong Kong Government and Department of Transport officials in London in November, the Hong Kong Government will draw
up a draft policy statement which, after
with
interested parties in Hong Kong, will be discussed with the Chinese, probably at the third JLG meeting (March 1986), before publication.
consultation
5. The Hong Kong Government hope to be able to introduce the new register by about 1990. Before then, a number of legal and other problems will need to be resolved. One of the most crucial will be Hong Kong's status after 1997 within the International Maritime
and Organisation
bodies,
its need
and other
international
to
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