47
that they are likely to favour change only when such.
change is manifestly necessary. Comment on this issue
may be expected at the Joint Liaison Group.
Conclusion
5.16.
In our view there is really little to choose
between (a) and (b). The former has the advantage that
it is known, familiar and actually works. The latter
has the feature of, at least publicly, distancing itself
from day-to-day Government. Since Government must in
any event remain entirely responsible for the register
and for ships and seafarers under its jurisdiction, any real independence achieved by such a system would be
illusory. Given also the strait jacket of constraints
likely to be necessary to avoid FOC stigma and gain
international recognition we can see little role for a
Statutory Authority to oversee the register itself.
Points of Concern to HMG
5.17.
The creation of a Statutory Authority to
oversee the new register, even though this would enable
the duties of the Flag State to be met in full would,
nevertheless, mean distancing the Hong Kong Government
from direct control. This might run counter to the