CONFIDENTIAL
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6.
The manning and registration proposals, however, present much more of a problen and there are the following substantial arguments against moving as far as suggested even by the Hong Kong Government:
7.
(i) At present most Commonwealth Governments accept
one another's certificates: if Hong Kong were formally to accept foreign certificates this would undermine the system, even if it could be accommodated within the existing Commonwealth Shipping Agreement, which requires members' registration requirements to be similar.
(ii) If a relaxation in legal terms is allowed to
Hong Kong shipowners it would be hard to resist the claim of UK shipowners, who also suffer from officer shortages, for similar treatment.
(iii) It would be undesirable to prejudge the outcome of
forthcoming studies of reciprocal recognition of certificates within the BBC and internationally
by allowing Hong Kong to recognise foreign certificates. (iv) To embark on the complex process of comparison of
foreign certificates at the present time, when the UK certificate structure is ahout to be recast, would be inopportune and very burdensome.
(v) UK beafarers unions regard the notionality
cortification requirements as essential to maintain their employment opportunities and would fiercely resist any relaxation on an unreciprocal basis.
(vi) Criticisms have been made that Singapore (whose
register has increased in the past four years while Hong Long's has been diminishing, has become a flag of convenience and a proposal to establish a separate Hong Kong register would be viewed with suspicion and could prejudice the UK's high reputation as a maritime netion, There is no precedent for a Colony having its own register.
I considor that the arguments against the registration and manning proposals are cogent, while the advantages to Hong Kong would be Jebabuble. The prestige argument for a separate register is of little substance under a separate long long register would be registered by
ship registered the Registrar of hips, Hong Kong, as at prorent and, for international commons, ecatinue to fly the red iasi, and be otherwise I'
A ped?
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