TNAG-0510-FCO40-575-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 102

- 3.

manufacturers who have recently been putting up an improved

6

performance in the Japanese market I should be glad to have your

views on these variations in our earlier proposals. We are conscious

that we may be criticised for establishing a flag of convenience

under the Red Ensign to the detriment of UK interests and believe

that only in the ways described can we successfully contest this

criticism.

7. It would clearly be necessary to assess how much shipping would

be brought on to a Hong Kong register established on those lines

before moving ahead with arrangements for recruiting new surveyora

and for secondments from here. For this purpose, you may need to

consult your shipowners informally but we hope this will not result

in press leaks. Eligibility for such a register would need further

thought but we are now inclined to defer to our Chamber of Shipping's

view that companies registered in the UK and in Hong Kong should

have the option of registering ships in either place es at present.

Indeed we might make no change in this respect in present conditions

govorning registration.

8. in closing, may I say how grateful we are for all that was done

for the visiting team.