CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFT
Mr Y K Pao, daring his visit to the Prime Minister on 7 June, anggeatod thọ
eng Betting up of a separate Hong Kong register of shipping and the Prime Minister
undertook to have this idea examined. Although technically possible, officials consider that the potential disadvantages of implementing the idea outwoighi the advantages.
REGISTRATION
Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 Hong Kong is a port of British registry! ships registered there are British ships and must comply with the safety
#tandards and manning requirements laid down for British ships. The UTI are at present consulting UK interests about the possibility of revising the 1894 provisions on registration, conscious of the Rochdale Committee's vicw that the registration provisions in respect of the Commonwealth would
increasingly appear anachronistic and should be reviewed. However, revision would involve re-negotiation of part of the Commonwealth Merchant Shipping Agreement 1931 which would take time' and changes in the legislation aro therefore unlikely in the near future: in any case the provisions relating
to colonies would not necessarily be affected.
The arrangements envisaged by Mr Pao might more quickly he brought about by the creation of a separate Hong Kong register. This could be done by local statute, confirmed by an Order in Council. The nationality requirements for cenior officers, and the specifications for materials and equipment, might then be different from these laid down for British ships.
CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY EQUIMENT STANDARDS
At present, Hong Kong applies high standards, comparable with UK standarde, for the construction of ships, for natoriale aid equipacht, for fire appliances
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