TNAG-0358-FCO40-394-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 115

PRIME

MINISTER

S

10, Botoning Street. Whitehall.

85

Prime Minister's

Personal Minute

No.

M121/72

MINISTER FOR AEROSPACE AN, SHIPPING

HKIDA

ce sofs

P5/125 Royle M. Wilford Most Dept.

ikrorattan

24114

Thank you for your minute of 15 November about

Hong Kong shipping questions.

I think we need to look again at the possibility

of creating a separate shipping register.

The

considerations mentioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth

Secretary in his minute to me or 21 November are

important. I am not convinced that the creation of a

separate register would damage our national interests

to any significant extent, and it would clearly be

welcomed by the trading community and other inhabitants

of the Colony. I should be grateful if you could

re-examine this question, and consider what else can

be done to accelerate progress on the other matters

mentioned by Mr. Y.K. Pao.

3. When you have put this in hand, I should like to

have a draft letter to send to la. Pao.

I am sending copies of this minute to the Foreign

and Commonwealth Secretary and the Secretary of State

for Trace and Industry.

At

24 November 1972 DETAL