TNAG-0421-FCO40-467-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 129

CONFIDENTIAL

42

THE TEAM WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR CLEARANCE OF THE LINE TAKEN ON

CONDUCTING ORAL EXAMINATIONS, IN JAPAN AND FOR GUIDANCE ON THE LINE

TO BE TAKEN IF THE MATTER IS RAISED AGAIN NOW THAT FLETCHER HAS TAKEN OVER AGAIN AS DIRECTOR OF MARINE AND THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO MEET REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG SHIPOWNERS. WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO AVOID APPEARING UNCOOPERATIVE. TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

AND SHIPOWNERS BUT WE DO NOT THINK THAT THIS STUDY TEAM SHOULD AGREE

TO CONDUCTING ASSESSMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS OTHER THAN IN EXAM-

INATION ROOM CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG. WE SUGGEST THAT THE MOST THE

TEAM SHOULD AGREE TO IF PRESSED SHOULD BE INFORMAL INTERVIEWS IN

JAPAN AIMED ONLY AT MAKING A GENERAL REPEAT GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF STANDARDS ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT OFFICERS INTERVIEWED IN JAPAN

OR ANYWHERE ELSE OUTSIDE OF EXAMINATION ROOM CONDITIONS WOULD

HAVE TO BE EXAMINED IN EXAMINATION ROOM CONDITIONS BEFORE THEY

COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARD OF CERTIFICATES UNDER THE PROPOSED

NEW ARRANGEMENTS.

5.

ASTON

REPLY SHOULD BE SENT VIA BTC HONG KONG,

PILES

HT D

HKI OD

TAYLOR

MR WILFORD

PS/MR ROYLE

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CONFIDENTIAL

COPIES TO

MARINE DIVISION DTI

SUNLEY HOUSE.

!

F