NONI 30
MINISTRY
OF
FANSPORT
Our reference: S.T.17/18/02
Your reference: HKK 10/3
Dear Carter,
SECRET
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
SEA TRANSPORT DIVISION
34/36 Parliament Street, LONDON S.W.I Telex: 21352 Telegrams: Transminry London Telex Telephone: 01-799 5655, ext. 16 (after 5-30 p.m. 01-799 4204)
Nr. Cammara Lu
..
13712
34/6
12th December, 1968.
At our meeting in your room on 28th November I agreed to take soundings as to the fate of our Sea Transport organisation in the Far East after the military rundown. The principal function of Sea Transport is to look after the sea movement needs of the Services using both Ministry- owned and merchant shipping. You will appreciate that the time is early for final decisions but the pattern evolving at present is that the head office (Divisional Sea Transport Office) at Singapore will certainly close down in step with the rundown of the forces; furthermore we can see little or no justification for keeping our own man in Hong Kong.
I have also had a word with the appropriate Division of the Board of Trade about their Shipping Representative in the Far East - one of their own Assistant Secretaries doing a 3 year stint and based in Singapore. The present incumbent took office only a matter of months ago, so will not complete his tour in the normal course of events until, say, mid-1971. This appointment is in no way tied to Service requirements but is more concerned with trade and commerce. Although the post is re- justified at the end of each tour, B.O.T. see no reason why the considerations or circumstances should be any different in three years' time from what they were this year. In other words, so far as can be foreseen the post will continue in being. You will recall, the Shipping Representative is the first of the three officers to whom our Minister would delegate his powers.
As intended, I took the opportunity of a personal chat with our Divisional Sea Transport Officer prior to his return to the Far East from U.K. leave. I acquainted him with the current position and asked him to advise the other two officers concerned, with due emphasis on security. He agreed that our present instructions could be suitably interpreted and acted upon if need arose.
I mentioned to you that the Sea Transport Division is to be transferred from the Ministry of Transport to the Board of Trade with effect from 1st January,1969. In withdrawing the sealed instructions from the Ministry of Transport Resident Clerks (on pretext of transfer) I have asked them to keep us posted for the next six months should they by chance receive any news. I shall of course establish contact with the B.O.T. Duty Officer after the changeover. We do not expect to move our location from the above address at any rate, not for the present.
W.S. Carter,Esq.,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
King Charles Street,
London, S.W.1.
SECRET
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