MRS022/613/22
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 4 NOV 1987
DESK OFFICER
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
3 November 1987
Mr CP Srivastava
Secretary-General
International Maritime Organisation
4 Albert Embankment
LONDON
SEL 7SR
Sir,
I have the honour to refer to the 58th Session of the Council of the International Maritime Organisation when the United Kingdom delegation stated that Her Majesty's Government was undertaking a review of the representation of the United Kingdom Dependent Territories at the International Maritime Organisation. The review was to include funding. The review did not include Hong Kong which is the Organisation's sole Associate Member. The People's Republic of China have agreed that Hong Kong may remain an Associate Member of the Organisation after the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997.
The review took place in the context of preparation of the legislative proposals now contained in the Merchant Shipping Bill which was introduced in the House of Lords on 29 October. A White Paper "Merchant Shipping: Legislative Proposals", a copy of which is enclosed, details the content of the Bill. Paragraphs 14 to 27 deal with the future registration of ships other than fishing vessels and paragraphs 21 to 25 include the proposals relating to the registers of the United Kingdom's Dependent Territories.
The result of the review of the representation of the Dependent Territories is at paragraph 21 and I have the honour to inform you that as of 1 January 1988 the United Kingdom will represent the Dependent Territories, except Hong Kong, at the International Maritime Organisation and will pay a full assessment to the Organisation on their behalf.
In future, therefore, for assessment purposes the tonnage ascribed to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will combine the United Kingdom tonnage, that of the Crown Dependencies and that of the Dependent Territories other than Hong Kong.
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