TNAG-0357-FCO40-393-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 127

CONFIDENTIAL

to

POWERS OF TEMPORARY EXEMPTION FROM THIS RULE IN CASES WHERE BRITISH OFFICERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, HE CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE IT ONLY PROVIDES TEMPORARY EXEMPTION, WHILE ALIEN OFFICERS ENGAGED UNDER SUCH EXEMPTIONS COULD BE REPLACED AT ANY COMMONWEALTH PORT BY BRITISH OFFICERS, IF AVAILABLE.

8. THESE AND RELATED QUESTIONS ARE AT PRESENT BEING FURTHER INVESTIGATED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE D.T.1. AS IT IS PROBABLE THAT THE NEW REGULATIONS BEING DRAWN UP UNDER THE U.K. MERCHANT

SHIPPING ACT, 1979 WILL PROVIDE SOME RELAXATION PERMITTING

ALIENS TO BE GRANTED BRITISH CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY. (YOU MAY LIKE TO CONSULT D.T.1.)

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9.IT IS BELIEVED THAT ONE OF THE REASONS MR. PAO PARTICULARLY WANTS TO SETTLE THIS ISSUE-AND-REGISTER MORE OF HIS SHIPS IN HONG

KONG IS THAT IT WOULD ENABLE THE VESSELS TO SAIL TO CHINA. THIS

THEY CANNOT DO IF REGISTERED UNDER THE LIBERIAN OR PANAMANAIN

FLAGS.

19.

MR. PAO HAS ALSO FROM TIME TO TIME SAID THAT THE WOULD LIKE

TO SEE MORE OF HIS SHIPS BUILT IN BRITISH AS OPPOSED TO JAPANESE

YARDS. BUT HE HAS FOLLOWED THIS UP WITH A STRING OF REASONS WHY

HE FINDS BRITISH SHIPBUILDERS UNSATISFACTORY FOR HIS PURPOSES.

MOST OF HIS CRITICISMS ARE PRACTICAL AND TO THE POINT AND THE

PRIME MINISTER MIGHT FIND IT INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO HIM ON

THIS SUBJECT,

11. HE RECENTLY DONATED A DARQUE (CATE CELTER) TO THE MARITIME TRUST, WHICH LIES IN PLYMOUTH.

x^2

FCO PASS COPY HONG KONG COVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.

[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING ST]

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKIOD

PS/MR ROYLE

FED

N & T D

NEWS D PS

SIR L MONSON

MR VILFORD

COPIES TO:

-3- CONFIDENTIAL

HK GOVT OFFICE PALL MALL MR JB SHOULER MARINE' DIVN DTI