BRITISH EMBASSY
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 77 5300 Bonn 1
Telex 88 68 87 Telephone (0228) 23 40 61
Peter Spiceley Esq
AMD
FCO
My Multiams
Can you pleax let them have an authoritative version and also include u seplepto their liter 4-3-91 k dip
Your reference
Our referanca
de Consular
responstit
towards HK shipping if nime has been sent ye
Date 29 August 1991
Dear Peter,
دار.
DOUBLE-FLAGGING of hong KONG REGISTERED VESSELS
1. I attach papers relating to a request from the Federal Transport Ministry for clarification of the correct flagging of Hong Kong registered ships. The background is that a Hong Kong registered merchant vessel was stopped off Hamburg and asked to explain why it was flying both Hong Kong and British flags.
The Master of the vessel said that this was in accordance with Hong Kong regulations. The Hamburg Harbour Police took up the matter with our Consulate-General, who obtained from Hong Kong a copy of the relevant regulation and forwarded it by way of explanation to the Harbour Police. The Hamburg Authorities were, perhaps not surprisingly, confused by this Hong Kong Regulation which appears to cut across Article 6 of the High Seas Agreement (stipulating a single national flag). They therefore took up the matter with the Federal Transport Ministry, hence the Ministry's letter to the Embassy.
2. It seems to me that there is a high risk that the Department of Transport and the Hong Kong Authorities may come up with different answers to this question. I am therefore addressing this letter only to AMD, in the hope that you will be able to undertake the necessary co-ordination and let me have an authoritative response as soon as possible.
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Your's Ever
Robot
CC:
R W Barnett
Ms M Sanderson, HMCG Hamburg
I Gibson Esq, Honorary Consul, Kiel
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