CONFIDENTIAL ·
INSUR ERS AND ALSO CHARTERERS, WHOSE VIEWS TOO WILL DEPEND TO SOME
EXTENT ON HOW THINGS WORK OUT IN PRACTICE. THESE PROBLEMS CAN ALL
NO DOUBT BE OVERCOME, GIVEN GOOD WILL AND VORKING EXPERIENCE, BUT THEY DO MAKE FIRM ADVANCE COMMITMENTS RATHER DIFFICULT.
THE PROBLEMS WILL BE REDUCED IN RESPECT OF NEW SHIPS ORDERED
IN FUTURE, BUT PAO TELLS ME THAT IT WOULD PE DIFFICULT IF NOT
IMPOSSIBLE FOR A YARD TO MODIFY A SHIP ALREADY PUILDING OR EVEN ORDERED. THIS TO SOME EXTENT EXPLAINS THE DELAY IN THE BUILD-UP
OF THE REGISTER.
6. MY OBJECT IN SPELLING OUT THESE PROBLEMS, WHOSE REALITY WILL BE
APPARENT TO THE DTI, IS NOT TO SUGGEST THAT THE OWNERS ARE COOLING
OFF, BUT RATHER THAT IT IS REASONABLE FOR THEM TO BE CAUTIOUS IN
COMMITTING THEMSELVES UNTIL THEY SEE HOW THINGS WORK OUT IN
PRACTICE.
7. FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH MY OWN JUDGEMENT IS THAT ALL WILL DEPEND
ON THE WAY IN WHICH THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE AND HIS DTI COLLEAGUES
PROCESS APPLICATIONS FOR THE NEW REGISTER AND FOR CERTIFICATES OF
COMPETENCY FOR SECOND-IN-COMMANDS, AND BELOW. IF THEY ARE REASONABLY SYMPATHETIC AND EXPEDITIOUS I SHOULD EXPECT THE REGISTER TO DEVELOP FASTER THAN ENVISAGED BY PAO, BUT IF, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, THE OWNERS BELIEVE THE ATTITUDE TO BE SUSPICIOUS OR RESTRICTIVE IN INTENTION, THE REGISTER WILL GET VERY LITTLE SUPPORT AT ALL.
8. MY OWN OPINION REMAINS THAT, GRANTED THE GOOD WILL OF HMG, WE SHOULD GO FOR THIS,
FCO PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
MACLEHOSE
FILES
AKIOD
M & T D
PS
PS/PUS
PS/MR ROYLE
MR WHITEHEAD
COPIES TO:
HK GOVT OFFICE
6 GRAFTON ST LONDON SW1.
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