TNAG-0419-FCO40-465-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 116

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Mr Archer MAR

HONG KONG REGISTER

CONFIDENTIAL

RUGUTRY N.51

14.1773

A

• AKK 21/1

co

P3/Secretary of State

PS/Secretary A & 3 PS/PUSS A & S

Mr Hubback

Mr Frost SP

2

2

21.

Goodfello see thes PLA

Mr Manson MAR Mr A C Stuart FCO

в

2013

You were present yesterday when the Minister discussed this subject with Mr Fletcher, the Hong Kong Director of Marine, and Mr Jones, Deputy Economic Secretary. Mr Hubback, Mr Frost and Mr Manson were also present, together with Mr A C Stuart of the FCO.

2.

The Minister said he understood that in discussion with you the visitors had considerably widened the proposals they had put forward last autumn. He would be interested to hear the reasons for this change in their thinking, and also to hear their assessment of ways in which the colony would gain by having its own Shipping Register. He referred to the draft consultative document prepared in the light of their discussions with you, and said it represented a substantial movement on HMG's part, though of course it had yet to be approved by Ministers collectively. He thought it would be difficult for HMG to go beyond the proposals in this document and asked the visitors how far these proposals would meet their objectives.

3. Mr Fletcher and Mr Jones said they had widened the proposals because of a growing shortage of officers in Hong Kong, and especially of masters: not only the shipowners were concerned about this, but also the Governor; and they were anxious to open up opportunities to holders of equivalent qualifications to the UK ones. They made particular mention of the Taiwanese masters who, they said, success- fully commanded big Liberian ships. As for the advantages of their own Register, they thought it would bring them prestige, would help their trade and would moderate the decline in the numbers interested in careers at sea. They thought the Register could reach 20m tons within three years.

4. However, they doubted whether the proposals in the draft consulta- tive document would meet their aims. In particular, they were afraid their shipowners might not register on this basis, for fear that they would be unable to get enough officers.

5. The Minister, summing up the discussion, said it was important to HIIG not to have two separate standards operating under the Red Ensig

ign. It was generally accepted that the flags of convenience imposed lower standards than the UK, and the very fact that it was hoped to enlist 20m tons on the new Register within three years gave ground for the concern on this point. It would clearly be pointless to open a new Register on the basis of the consultative document if Hong Kong owners did not use it: and it was essential that the Hong Kong owners should be consulted about the proposals and their likely response to them ascertained. HMG would consult both sides of the UK shipping industry, in confidence, at the same time. He said he would wish to discuss the matter with the Secretary of State before these consultations began. The visitors agreed to this procedure.

16.