CONFIDENTIAL
4. THE POSITION OF HONG KONG SHIP-OWNERS AS A WHOLE IS, THEREFORE,
AS SET OUT IN THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE'S MEMORANDUM, NAMELY THAT, UNDER THE CONDITIONS SET OUT IN THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT, THE
TONNAGE LIKELY TO BE BROUGHT ONTO A NEW REGISTER WOULD BE NIL OR NEGLIGIBLE. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE CONDITIONS EXPLAINED IN THE MEMORANDUM, INCLUDING (A), (B) AND (C) IN PARAGRAPH 3 THEREOF WERE MET, WE COULD EXPECT UP TO 20 MILLION DEADWEIGHT TONS BY THE END OF 1975 AND PROBABLY MORE LATER.
5. ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE AT THE LAST MEETING TO PERSUADE THE SHIPOWNERS TO ADDRESS THEMSELVES TO A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THESE TWO EXTREMES THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE WILL BE HOLDING ANOTHER
MEETING EARLY NEXT WEEK (AT WHICH PAO WILL BE PRESENT) TO EXPLORE AGAIN THE POSSIBLE GROUND FOR COMPROMISE. I WILL BE SENDING YOU MY
FURTHER VIEWS AFTER THAT MEETING.
FCO PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
MACLEHOSE
FILES IKIOD M&T D
COPY TO
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
-2- CONFIDENTIAL
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