TNAG-0419-FCO40-465-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 73

G.F. 323 0003230

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CONFIDENTIAL #B

Record of Meeting with the Minister of Aerospace and Shipping at Government House, Hong Kong, on Saturday, 24th March

1973

Hong Kong Register of Shipping

Present:

H.E. the Governor

Mr. Michael Heseltine, M.P.

Minister of Aerospace & Shipping

Sir Hugh Norman-Walker

Mr. C.P. Haddon-Cave

Mr. J. Cater

Mr. D.H. Jordan

Mr. A. Fletcher

Mr. T.R. Thomson

Mr. D.J.C. Jones

Mr. A.J. Lane

Mr. G.A. Higginson

Colonial Secretary

Financial Secretary

Secretary for Information

Director of Commerce & Industry

Director of Marine

Director of Civil Aviation

Deputy Economic Secretary Private Secretary to Minister Private Secretary to Governor

The Governor said that the meeting with the Minister on Friday, 23rd March, had been useful. Hong Kong would now draw up its comments on the Draft Consultative Document in the light of what was said at the previous day's meeting. An attempt would also be made to estimate the tonnage likely to come on to a Hong Kong Register under varying conditions.

2.

The major points arising from Friday's meeting were then briefly discussed:

(a)

The Minister said he was concerned about the standards of ships owned by the very small shipping companies who might move their ships to a Hong Kong Register to escape the stringent D.T.I. standards. The Director of Marine confirmed that his staff were competent to police the register and ensure high standards. The Governor welcomed the Minister's suggestion that D.T.I. might second some of its officers to the Marine Department, and noted that all Marine Department officers dealing with safety standards had spent one year with D.T.I.

CONFIDENTIAL

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