TNAG-0420-FCO40-466-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 173

DRAFT

MEMORANDUM TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

HONG KONG REGISTER OF SHIPPING

The UK Government has carefully considered the Hong Kong

Government's comments on the Consultative Document, made

after discussions with Hong Kong shipowners.

The UK Government notes that it is the view of the Hong Kong

Government that if only the proposals contained in the

Consultative Document were to be put into effect it would

be exceptional" for shipowners to register ships on this

account in Hong Kong, On the other hand the Hong Kong

Government believes that if "a much larger measure of agree-

ment" could be reached a separate Hong Kong register might

contain some 10.9m gross registered tons by 1975 or so.

The UK Government is prepared to make the following new

proposals in order to secure agreement.

First, the UK Government would second 6 surveyors to Hong Kong,

These would comprise a mixed-discipline group of 5 senior

surveyors under a surveyor equivalent in rank to Deputy Chief.

The surveyors would be paid by the Hong Kong Government (increased registration fee revenue should cover the cost) but

would be responsible directly to the Surveyor General of UK

Marine Survey Service. The surveyors would be concerned with

safety equipment, crew accommodation and manning matters.

In our view the proposal would have the following advantages:

1. it would silence or minimise in advance any

criticism that the Hong Kong register of shipping had

1