UK team for
Senter Copy w/ecommer
talks on
int
9 ESBOT 393
HK register
S. C. m. p. 14-9-73.
of shipping
An official delegation from the Department of Trade and Industry in London will visit Hongkong shortly to study arrangements for the proposed separate register of shipping in the Colony.
In a simultaneous announcement in London and Hongkong at 1.30 am today, the Minister for Aerospace and Shipping, Mr Michael Heseltine, said the team would study in detail, with Marine Department here, the feasibility of setting up a separate register of shipping in Hongkong.
The study is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Hongkong shipping magnate, Mr Y.K. Pao, this morning hailed the visit as "one step towards the goal.”
Mr Pao, a leading advocate for a Hongkong autonomous registry, said: “Of course, I'd like to see my fleet sail under the Hongkong flag eventually."
He cautioned however that it would depend on the requirements.
Under Mr Pao's leadership, the World-Wide Group has grown rapidly and now has ships totalling six million tons afloat, and a further 10 million tons on order.
The date of arrival of the British delegation is not yet fixed. Following the study, further consultations with both sides of the industry will be made.
A decision will then be taken in the light of these consultations, on the team's report and the amount of tonnage which Hongkong' shipowners agree to bring on to a separate register if established.
"The Hongkong Government and shipowners have expressed the wish to establish a separate register under the red ensign with standards equivalent to those attached to the United Kingdom register but with greater flexibility in order to reflect the situation in Hongkong as regards availability of personnel, materials and safety equipment,” the announcement stated.
"This may result in Hongkong shipowners registering a much bigger proportion of their tonnage in Hongkong," it said.
The British Government is sympathetic to this aim, the announcement continued, "provided there are effective safeguards which would ensure that the resulting standards of safety and manning would be equivalent."
Commenting on the issue, Mr Pao said the general opinion, was that owners would like to register their ships in Hongkong because this would give identity.
But if it would cost a lot of money and trouble for the transfer, Mr Pao warned,' shipowners might be compelled to retain whatever flag their ships are at present flying.
For his giant fleet, Mr Pao said, it would depend on the manning, safety and accommodation requirements as many of his ships are under charter and other commitments.
"If the requirement.needs to have a British master, then I'll have to see how many of them I can get," he said.
Should everything go smoothly, he said, he would change most
of the fleet to Hongkong registry.
Mr Pao started pursuing the issue 18 months ago, and had talks with Mr Heseltine several times.
At present, the Director of Marine, Mr A. Fletcher is taking the opportunity of his leave in the UK to have a series of discussions with DTI officials.
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