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04-JUN-1992 15:07
POLITICAL ADVISOR OFFICE
+852 521 8702
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THE HONG KONG SHIPOWNERS ASSOCIATION LTD.
12th Floor, Queen's Centre. 58 Queen's Road East, Wanchai. Hong Kong. Phone: 520-0206, Telcx: 89157 HKSOA HX. Fax: 865-1582. 529-8246
100
27th May 1992
Mr. A.R. Clark
Deputy Secretary for Maritime Affairs
5th Floor, Yu Yuet Lai Building
43-55 Wyndham
Hong Kong
sed to
HKC 175/1
pr.
6.
1992
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Dear Tony,
PIRACY IN SOUTH EAST ASIAN WATERS
Shipowners are gravely concerned at the escalating level and ferocity of pirate attacks against merchant shipping in the territorial waters of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore and over an area ranging from the northern tip of Sumatra to the northern coast of Java and to the west of Borneo and the sealanes in between. No flag or vessel type seems to be immune, excepting passenger ships thus far.
During the first week of May three further vessels owned here were attacked in or near Indonesian waters - one VLCC fully loaded, one ULCC in ballast and one general cargo ship - all Panamanian flag. This now brings us to a total of 26 vessels owned/operated by our members attacked during the last seven months in the area of the Malacca Straits, Philip Channel or Singapore Strait. Regardless of where these vessels are registered, their operation by our members is part of Hong Kong's economy and their well-being should be of concern to our administration.
Our members' worries about piracy were raised at the last two meetings of the Shipping Consultative Committee, and there is the desire that vigorous protests should be made at diplomatic level through the FCO to IMO and to the governments of the littoral states involved.
We would be grateful if you would please add some urgency to this matter, and take into account the recent représentations made by the Asian Shipowners Forum as contained in the attached correspondence. For your information the Asian Shipowners Forum is made up presently of the shipowners of Australia, ASEAN, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, ROC and PRC.
As if leaving ships totally unmanned (with all crew tied up) sailing at full speed in narrow sealanes was not bad enough, the pirates have now introduced the reckless use of lighted petrol bombs (although on none of our ships so far). The likelihood of a major maritime disaster has thus inevitably been increased.
Regardless of nationality or ownership of the merchant shipping now exposed to such attacks, peaceful trade which is the right of all nations is being jeopardised until safe passage and lawful navigation is restored in South East Asian waters.
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