TNAG-0421-FCO40-467-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 45

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1

Mr Burges Watson

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TOKYO

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Your reference

Our reference FEJ 6/19

Date

7 December 1973

Деа

Richert

HONG KONG REGISTER OF SHIFFING

$1.1.

Thank you for your interesting and perceptive analysis. of the possible commercial disadvantages to the UK which could arise from the establishment of an independent Hong Kong Register of Shipping. We have passed copies on to Marine Division of the DTI and to HKTÖD (who are responsible for this subject within the Office).

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2. Your letter was despatched before your telegram No SHIP 7 of 30 November, paragraph 4 of which indicates that Dr Cowley has now given you a good deal more of the background to this proposal. will have told you that it has been under consideration for well over a year, and that there are a number of important political factors to be taken‡nto account, which maymilitate against purely commercial considerations. As he will no doubt have made clear the DTI team visited the Far East solely to study the feasibility and possible implications of aseparate Hong Kong Register of Shipping. A decision on whether or not to set up such a Reginter will only be made in the light of the DTI team's report and furthe consultations with the UK shipping industry.

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3. We understand from Marine Division that your paragraph 662) mp somewhat over-estimate the likely immediate effect on sales of British marine equipment. At present, virtually all ships belong ing to Hong Kong shipowners are registered under flags of consenizers and are therefore, already able to use Japanese safety equipment, ip preference to British. Only a few Hong Kong-owned ships of rieni. ficant size are currently registered in the UK or in Hong Kon thus are compelled in pepefier to use British safety equipm The catablishment

kode sa radi Hong Bong Register mi 5 therefore lead to

Transfer of ordern depanese made determined fronds They have revealed liber act that they have shown minime.of ¿ducts for DTI dorporation in UK il re ahirn.

for implications of the spread of dagenese equipment for Ul registr

Nevertheless, the possible ships (which bented wainly by DTI surveyors, band 76 Kong) will form part o the BTT bar's report. The team WQ

to Jupaonse eqripmet al the into the UK shipownent

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