TNAG-0419-FCO40-465-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 182

3.

(G)

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REGISTRATION AND OTHER FEES WOULD NEED TO AT LEAST COVER

COSTS. THESE FEES AND PROFITS TAX FROM COMPANIES REGISTERED

IN HONG KONG SHOULD BENEFIT REVENUE.

I SHOULD AGAIN EMPHASISE THAT NONE OF THE ABOVE PROPOSALS WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH ANY LOWERING OF STANDARDS OR THE ESTABLISH- MENT OF YET ANOTHER FLAG OF CONVENIENCE. INDEED, AS THEY COULD ENCOURAGE A MOVE AWAY FROM FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE BY OUR LOCAL *SHIPOWNERS, THEY WOULD BE A STEP IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE WELCOMED IN SUCH BODIES AS OECD AND ILO. A SEPARATE HONG

KONG REGISTRY SHOULD ALSO HELP OUR SHIPOWNERS IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT WORKERS FEDERATION (ITF). AS REGARDS THE OPINIONS OF BOTH SIDES OF THE INDUSTRY IN THE UK WE UNDERSTAND THAT BRITISH SHIPOWNERS ARE MOST SYMPATHETIC TO THE PROPOSITION, THE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION MAY SEE THING RATHER DIFFER- ENTLY BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE BASIC PROBLEM RELATES TO A SHORTAGE OF BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICERS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE MOVE AWAY FROM FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE THAT A HONG KONG REGISTRY WOULD

ENTAIL SHOULD ALSO BE WELCOME TO THEM.

4.

I HAD PROMISED TO SEND YOU DRAFT DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE

NECESSARY LEGISLATION HERE AS AN INDICATION OF WHAT WE HAD IN

MIND FOR A HONG KONG REGISTER. BUT IN VIEW OF ALL THE POINTS RAISED

IN YOUR LETTER I HAVE THOUGHT IT PREFERABLE TO TRY AND GET AGREEMENT

WITH YOU IN PRINCIPLE BY EXCHANGE OF TELEGRAMS BEFORE EMBARKING

ON SUCH AN EXTENSIVE LABOUR.

FCO PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.

MACLEHOSE

FILES: HKIOD

COPIES TO:

MR HUBBACH

DTI

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFF ICE

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