TNAG-0420-FCO40-466-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 55

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4. IT IS ENVISA ED THAT IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST T.0 YEARS TO ESTALLISH A SEPARATE HONG KONG REGISTER ON THESE BROAD LINES. THE PREPARATION OF DETAILED GUIDANCE UN ACCEPTABILITY OF OFFICERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE REGISTER WOULD REQUIRE CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE OF THE UALIFICATI„NS AND BACKGROUND OF OFFICERS NOW SERVING WITH HONG KONG SHIPOWNERS AND A CLOSER KNOWLEDGE THAN IS NOW AVAILABLE OF THE STANDARD OF OREIGN CE TIFICATES. SIMILARLY, GUIDANCE ON .CCEPTANCE OF MATERIALS AND SAFETY EQUIP ENT WILL CALL FOR CLOSE

CQUAINTANCE WITH FOREIGN SUPPLIERS ESPECIALLY THE JAPANESE SHIPYARDS. IT WILL ALSO BE NECESSARY TO DECIDE ON CONDITIONS FOR ACCESS TO THE REGISTER IF ESTABLISHED AND TO INTRODUCE APPROPRIATE

.ONG KONG LEGISLATION.

ENDS

DOUGLAS-10 E

FILES

HK I OD

MT D

NEWS DEPT

PS/MR ROYLE .

MR WHITEITEAD

COPIES TO

MR LF STANDEN, DTI SUNLEY HOUSE

PS/MR HESELTINE

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

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