TNAG-0419-FCO40-465-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 172

CODE 18-77

(

MR HUBBACK Dep Sec

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

CC

Mr Thornton

T

Secretary A&S

Mr Brigstocke SP

Mr Manson SG (MAR)

-

Mr Standen

Mr Madigan

MAR 1

MAR 4

Mr Shouler

MAR 4

HONG KONG REGISTER

Mr Andrew Stuart FCO

Felegramm

ོ

كم

PA

بر

The 9.

Mr Brigstocke and I have discussed our response to the Governor's telegram of 17.1.73 with the Surveyor-General and Mr Shouler. proposals set a number of problems but we think we should treat them as a basis for discussion with the Hong Kong Government. Accordingly, we would now like to act on Mr Thornton's proposal that senior officials be asked to come here and discuss details. As some important policy questions arise, we feel justified in suggesting that the Colonial Secretary as well as the Director of Marine should represent Hong Kong.

We also think it would be helpful if you were to indicate in a telegram the main questions which arise. This I have done in the draft attached. You may want to pass the papers to the Minister's Private Office after action as they are keeping closely in touch with events.

Particularly in view of what is said in the third paragraph about the attitude of British shipowners, I think we should now have a confidential talk with the shipowners' organisations. The Chamber may take the line that an easement of manning and other requirements in Hong Kong would put us under some pressure to make similar concessions here; this we should be very reluctant to do except as part of an international agreement and it would make it virtually impossible to carry the MNAOA with us. In any event, we should, I think, sound the Chamber at this stage though not the MNAOA - and I would propose to talk to Mr Wood off the record. I think I should also talk to Mr Rice-Oxley of the Shipping Federation in view of the manning implications.

Archers

JN ARCHER

MAR

22 January 1973

CONFIDENTIAL