TNAG-0357-FCO40-393-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 122

CONFIDENTIAL

AMENDMENTS TO HONG KONG DRAFT BRIEF

Letmial

2. ping

my register

Meligation

Hartanto

•

from the

Paragraph 3. Delete last line and a half. After

'flag" insert a full stop and then:-

11

Hong Kong is a port of British registry: ships registered there are British ships and fly the United Kingdom flag. Registration of ships as British involves certain obligations in relation to safety standards and manning requirements.

Faragraph 4

I suggest para 4 be deleted and the following substituted:-

"It would be possible in the long term to create a separate Hong Kong register through UK legislation and local statute, although no convincing evidence has yet been produced of the benefits this would bring to either Hong Kong or the UK. Mr Pao's proposal seems to involve two separate issues; first the question what qualifica- tions as regards nationality and principal place of business would be imposed upon shipowners and such questions as what flag the ships would fly, and secondly, and more important, what safety standards as regards ship construction, equipment and manning, would be applied. In the event of a separate Hong Kong register being created, obligations consequent upon registration would still have to comply with the international convention on the safety of life at sea (SOLAS). UK conscientiously interprets the SOLAS requirements and in some cases requires higher standards than those laid down in the Convention: it would be possible for Hong Kong significantly to reduce her standards to those

flag of convenience" countries, whilst still complying with SOLAS. We are concerned that standards set by the Merchant Shipping Acts for British ships should not be lowered as a matter of expediency.

of

خرید

Faragraph 6, line 7. After UK Government insert:-

"(in the UK or Commonwealth)"

The

Paragraph 7. Insert new final sentences as follows:-

"The last point is not considered valid: if the Hong Kong Director of Marine gave an exemption in respect of a vessel registered in Hong Kong it would be honoured in other Commonwealth ports. Eut, of course, there would have to be good reasons for an exemption and it would probably be the subject of prior consultation with the UK."