RESTRICTED
42
122422
HKC
175/1
MDLOAN 8480
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY CANBERRA
TELNO 213
OF 16173OZ JUNE 92
см
AND TO PRIORITY TOKYO, WASHINGTON, BONN, OSLO, THE HAGUE, PARIS INFO PRIORITY ASEAN POSTS, BRASILIA, MODUK, ODA
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, ACTOR
ODA FOR WARBOYS
MIPT: PIRACY IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA
SPEAKING NOTE
عليكم
THE UK IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF ATTACKS ON MERCHANT SHIPS PARTICULARLY IN THE SE ASIAN REGION. THE PROBLEM IS ATTRACTING PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL INTEREST IN THE UK. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CHAMBER OF SHIPPING THAT 7 ATTACKS ON BRITISH VESSELS WERE REPORTED IN THE 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 1992. HOWEVER WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE NUMBER OF ATTACKS WORLDWIDE IS SIGNIFICANT. INTERESTED TO KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT OTHER MERCHANT FLEETS HAVE
BEEN AFFECTED.
- BELIEVE THAT SE ASIAN COUNTRIES ARE ALREADY SEEKING TO COOPERATE ON THIS ISSUE. A SEMINAR WAS HELD IN KUALA LUMPUR IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME BUREAU, A COMMERCIAL OPERATION AND ATTENDED BY MALAYSIA, INDONESIA AND SINGAPORE. NOT CLEAR WHETHER THIS HAS YIELDED ANY TANGIBLE RESULTS.
WE ARE AWARE OF THE SENSITIVITIES OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN STATES, GIVEN THAT MOST OF THE ATTACKS TAKE PLACE IN THEIR TERRITORIAL WATERS, WHICH THEY HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO POLICE. DIFFICULT TO INTERVENE WITHOUT ENCROACHING UPON THEIR JURISDICTION. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.
-
A POSSIBLE OPTION WOULD BE TO GEAR UP IMO TO GREATER ACTIVITY. DO YOU AGREE THAT THERE WOULD BE VALUE IN INITIATING A
1
PAGE RESTRICTED