TNAG-0323-FCO40-359-Legislation-for-merchant-shipping-registered-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 29

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

From DTI's latest letter and from the Colony

itself we know that Hong Kong is considering

amendments to their Merchant Shipping

Ordinance and that DTI will be consulting

them on the effect of the 1970 Act.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

6.

Indications are that Mr Pao will never agree to the

short term solution of exemptions and, if this is so, we

are left with long term solutions two involving

independent action of doubtful consequence by Hong Kong

and the other a combined action by HMG and the

Commonwealth including Hong Kong which will probably

achieve similar results without danger of material or

political damage to Britain or Hong Kong. Clearly the

safest, most effective course is to concentrate on the

combined action now being undertaken by DTI especially

as it is debatable whether it will take much longer to

achieve than independent action in Hong Kong.

7. I recommend, therefore that Mr Pao be told

regretfully that owing to legislative reforms being

planned under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1970, it is not

at present possible to offer facilities beyond those

suggested by the Director of Marine, Hong Kong. It

could also be intimated that these reforms are expected

to ease the "officer manning" problem. It would be

unwise (and impolite to Hong Kong) to go beyond this

until the Governor has been fully informed of the

relevant portions of exchanges between ourselves and the

DTI and has if he so wishes offered Mr Pao

exemptions of up to one year's duration. A small but

important point to bear in mind is that Mr Pao has not

been told that one year exemptions are possible and,

though Marine and Transport Department believe that as

/an

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