TNAG-0420-FCO40-466-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 139

CONFIDENTIAL

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PS

Mr Archer has now given me an account of his talk with

Mr Lee. The latter said that of Mr Y K Pao's present 6 million

tons "about 80% already had British Masters and British First

Officers". If this is so it means that Mr Y K Fao alone is in

a position to transfer a substantial amount of shipping to a

Hong Kong register in accordance with the latest DTI offer

without even the need to insist on the right to do without

British First Officers. I promised to let the Governor know

this without revealing the source and have sent him the attached

telegram.

3 -

CONFIDENTIAL

Very breaking

Kun hiffo 17