TNAG-0358-FCO40-394-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 94

APPENDIX 1

PROPOSAL TO SET UP A SEPARATE HONG KONG REGISTER

Attitude of Hong Kong

Government

(a) Wish to establish separate register and attract to it much of shipping owned by Hong Kong residents which is at

present registered

Mr Pao's attitude as expressed to PUSS (Aerospace & Shipping) on 28.9.72

abroad particularly

in Liberia.

(a) Suggested a

(b)

(b) Wish to retain

British flag for Hong Kong registered ships.

(c) Are opposed to any

arrangement resembling a flag of convenience.

(d) Require more flexi-

bility in manning requirements but without any reduc- tion in standards of competence.

(e) Have suggested: (i) That English

speaking holders of certificates issued by Norway, Sweden, Netherlands and W. Germany should be accepted in Hong Kong ships in all positions except Master.

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separate register to enable him to meet request of Hong Kong Govt to register more of his ships in Hong Kong.

Mr Pao's attitude as given in an address to the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East in Nov 1972

Reason for registering his ships in Liberia is the acute shortage of duly certified Engineers (Note: ot clear whether the main difficulty is at 2nd Engineer level).

Mcat

(a) Strongly advocated

a separate Register.

(b) Advocated the avoid- ance of any restric- tions on the basis of origin, affilia- tion or residence of owner in accessa- bility to the Hong Kong Register. An"open door" policy is more realistic and healthy similar to flags of conveni- ence such as Liberia and Singapore.

(c)

(c) Claimed that he is

personally quite happy with present position under which most of his fleet operates under the Liberian flag although registration in Hong Kong would be much cheaper than in Liberia where there was a large initial registration fee and a significant annual fee in addition.

(d)

Appeared to be ready to accept that if a separate register were established the Master should still be required to be British

Criticised present situation in which qualified officers of non-British origin cannot attain a senior position because they are not permitted to take examinations for

Hong Kong certificates

as Master, 1st Officer and Chief Engineer. (He erroneously referred to 2nd Engineer as well.)

(d)

Claimed that our accommodation

standards are

inappropriate and appeared to have in mind lower standards.

1