227
Department of Transport
Room 3/9
Sunley House 90 High Holborn London WC1V 6LP
Telex 264084 Answer Back MARBOT G
Telegrams MARBOT LONDON WC1
Telephone 01-405 6911 ext 3207
Your reference
Pw
(243)
Ms O Walker
Hong Kong Department
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Whitehall
LONDON
Our reference
Date
14 November 1985
SW1
Dear Clivice
HR(175/1
MKCC175/1
RECEIVEL
REGISTRY
18 NOV 1985
DES VARICEA
INDEX
HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER
-
FLAG
1. ก
Thank You for copying to me TEĽNO 1622 from Peking about the appropriate flags to be flown on ships
ships on a separate Hong Kong register. Du Ping expresses the personal view that a red ensign surmounting ว separate and new Hong Kong flag before 1997
1997 and the PRC flag
the Over
same Hong Kong flag after that
date may appear a novel solution to the problem but is in fact
is in fact the only
one.
Coincidentally I have been in touch with Miss I M Doughty (218 7859) of MOD'S Naval Law Division (room 202 Archway Block South, Old Admiralty Buildings, SW1) who turns out to be the expert on marine flags (Garter King-at-Arms I discovered, while concerned with the armorial and other devices on all flags, was only interested in the propriety of which flags are flown by whom and where when these are on land). She had the following comments on the options listed in 8.5 of the position paper:
(a)
(b)
(c)
no problem for the UK and no action need be taken;
entirely a matter for the Hong Kong Government provided that the union flag is not incorporated into the "new and distinctive Hong Kong flag". (I am sure that this would be avoided in any case.
This is Lu Ping's solution). She went on to say, however, that a combination of flags like this at the stern of a ship is "not done" in maritime circles. I said that Hong Kong was in a unique position and she conceded that despite prevailing convention it could be a runner for this reason;
in a Royal Warrant
The Queen's approval manifest would be required. (I got the impression that there would not be much difficulty
in obtaining such a warrant);
(d) & (e)
again, the Queen's approval would be necessary.
/...