TNAG-0421-FCO40-467-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 33

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17th December, 1973

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When you called we spoke about the situation created by senior deck officers from Worldwide not having been available for interview by the D.T.I. team during their visit. I gather that it is only senior non-British deck officers, without D.T.I. qualifications, in whom they are interested.

I am inclined to think that this is more of a presentational point on the part of the D.T.I. than one of real substance, but it is apparent to me that unless this gap in the D.T.I.'s appreciation is filled, and filled soon, it is going to bedevil the progress of our project to establish a Hong Kong Register.

You were good enough to say you would pay the expenses of the D.T.I. team to enable them to interview such officers either in Japan on their way home or later, as your ships called in European ports. They are not able to go to Japan but accept your offer to visit European ports at Worldwide's expense.

I think it will only be necessary to arrange for three or four such interviews. I appreciate that this may be difficult to arrange as the ships are in port for such a short length of time and the date of their arrival may be hard to predict; on the other hand, D.T.I. officials will not be able to drop everything and go off on a visit at a moment's notice. Moreover, since they wish such interviews to be conducted on official premises it will be necessary for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to arrange a room in the nearest British Consulate.

Y.K. Pao, Esq., J.P.

World-wide (Shipping) Ltd.

21st Floor

Prince's Building

HONG KONG

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