GRS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1001
OF 130356Z MARCH 87
CONFIDENTIAL
Telut
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING
175/2
to Buty
36
own 3 looks (?) or Liaise with Пасто
се
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON FOR MARINE ADVISER.
YOUR TELNO 743 : HONG KONG PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE AT IMO.
FOR THE RECORD, MENSAH IS NOT (NOT) CORRECT IN HIS ASSERTION
THAT ALL PREVIOUS CREDENTIALS FOR HONG KONG OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN
SUBMITTED BY HMG. NOR ARE WE CONVINCED THAT HE IS NOW ASKING US TO
ACT STRICTLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 9 OF THE IMO CONVENTION.
2. WE DO NOT WISH TO MAKE HEAVY WEATHER OVER THIS, AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE POINTS IN YOUR PARA 3. NEVETHELESS WE DO NOT WISH TO
GIVE CREDENCE TO THE VIEW THAT EVERYTHING DONE BY HONG KONG IN ITS
CAPACITY AS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER HAS TO BE DONE WITH THE PRIOR
KNOWLEDGE (STILL LESS CONSENT) OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT. THIS
WOULD BE A PARTICULARLY UNFORTUNATE VIEW WITH RESPECT TO THE PERIOD
AFTER 1997.
3. WE WONDER WHETHER IT WOULD SATISFY MENSAH IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE CREDENTIALS, WHICH WOULD MAKE NO MENTION OF ANY UK AUTHORITY.
THESE CREDENTIALS COULD THEN SE FORWARDED TO THE IMO BY THE HK
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE, WITH A COVERING NOTE WHICH REFERRED TO
THE FACT THAT HE WAS FORWARDING THE CREDENTIALS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE
OF THE FOO. THIS WOULD KEEP THE FORMAL CREDENTIALS THEMSELVES
STRICTLY IN LINE WITH ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONVENTION.
AKERS-JONES
YYYY
HMLNAN 0006
MINIMAL
MAED HKD
CONFIDENTIAL
copias TO:
MR PLANT, LEGAL ADVISERS.
MR J.F. WALL,
WALL SPÓ/OTA