TNAG-0419-FCO40-465-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 37

JAN

NHOLM

PRESIDENTS ROOM

01-283 2922

CHAMBER OF SHIPPING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

Michael Heseltine, Esq., MP.,

Minister for Aerospace and Shipping,

Department of Trade & Industry,

1 Victoria Street,

LONDON, SW1H OET.

Dear Minister,

46

30-32 ST. Mary AXE

LONDON,

EC3A 8ET

26th April, 1973.

HONG KONG REGISTER

I am writing on behalf of the President of the British Shipping Federation and myself.

18 Capril

- su

repert file

It was very good of you to see us last week, and we appreciated the amount of time you made available to discuss the suggestion of a separate Hong Kong Register of Shipping.

The establishment of such a register would, we believe, have considerable implications for British shipping, so we were glad that, at the end of our meeting, you invited us to write to you, setting out the likely problems as we see them and indicating the areas in which Government action would be required to preserve our position.

I can well understand why you felt obliged to argue that a separate Hong Kong Register need not involve any deterioration of standards either in the rules or in practice. However, the view of the majority of the industry is so clear on this subject that we would be failing in our duty if we did not reiterate that British shipowners are seriously worried. And even if you are right, our fear is that, fairly or unfairly, world opinion would conclude otherwise. Why else, it would be argued - however cynically - should so large a block of tonnage now registered under flags of convenience be attracted to the Hong Kong Register.

From this transfer, and the conclusions drawn by the shipping community of the world about it, could flow a number of consequences unfavourable to British shipping.

a) The experience of British owners who have purchased

tonnage built for service under another flag has almost universally been that considerable costs and delays are involved in meeting the DTI's technical requirements for statutory equipment. We are at present engaged in discussions with your Marine Division with a view to obtaining more recognition for the standards accepted

It seems by other major maritime administrations.

Lucien U.K

industan

standards

truff

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