TNAG-0421-FCO40-467-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 142

CONFIDENTIAL

4.

WE MUST STRESS THAT THE VISIT OF THE TEAM WILL BE VALUE-

LESS AS A STEP TOWARDS OBTAINING FIRM. COMMITMENTS FROM LOCAL

SHIPOWNERS IF IT DOES NOT RESULT IN THE OWNERS KNOWING PRECISELY

WHICH OF THE OFFICERS PRESENTED FOR INTERVIEW WILL BE ACCEPTED

IF A SEPARATE REGISTER IS ESTABLISHED AND WHAT TYPES OF EQUIPMENT

AND ACCOMMODATION CURRENTLY PROVIDED WILL BE ACCEPTABLE. ONLY

ON THE BASIS OF SUCH SPECIFIC INDICATIONS CAN THE OWNERS REACH

CONCLUSIONS ON THE COST TO THEM OF REGISTERING, WE UNDERSTAND

THAT THIS POINT WAS COVERED WHEN THE GOVERNOR MET THE MINISTER

ON 12 SEPTEMBER.

5:

WE CONFIRM THAT AN OFFICER OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WILL

ACCOMPANY THE TEAM TO JAPAN AND LOCAL SHIPOWNERS HAVE EXPRESSED

A WILLINGNESS TO CONDUCT THE TEAM ON AN INSPECTION OF SHIPS

PRESENTLY BEING BUILT IN JAPAN.

6.

CAPTAIN ROE WILL CONTACT YOU IN LONDON BETWEEN 2ND AND

9TH OCTOBER. AS HE HAS A VERY FULL PROGRAMME, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL

IF YOU WOULD ARRANGE A MEETING AT HIS CONVENIENCE,

FCO PLEASE PASS COPY TO HK GOVT. OFFICE., LONDON,

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKI OD

M & T D

FED

PS/MR ROYLE

PS/MR AMERY

HR WRIGHT

COPIES TO

MR L P STANDEN DTI SUNLEY HSE

MR J ARCHER,

DTI SUNLEY HSE

PS TO MR HESELTINE

DTI

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

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CONFIDENTIAL