TNAG-0510-FCO40-575-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 42

LAST

RE:

REXT

PS/SECRETARY OF STATE

28

RECEI ED IP REGISTRY Mo. 51

5 APR 1974

HKK 21/3

Reference...

cc PS/PUSS CARS

Mr Goothilla to see one interests safeguarded

Sir Peter Thornton

Mr Hubback - Dep Sec Mr Wakefield - BOTB

Mr Manson

Mr Gummer

SG MAR SBP

are

Mr Burbridge MAR1 (on

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Mr Standen MAR4 Dr Cowley

Capt Anderson

Mr Harris BOTB Miss Welch CRE2 Mrs Wicks MAR1 -

S

MR FROST - SP. Mr A Stuart

FCO

4.

arrival)

3012

CODE IN TĮ

PROPOSED SEPARATE HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER

1.

Sir Peter Thornton has asked me to make a submission to the Secretary of State on this subject to which much thought has been given over the past two years. Mr Y K Pao, who is one of the biggest shipowners in the world, is the prime mover and will probably be lobbying Ministers on it very shortly.

2.

(w /27 1

w/2211

3.

I attach: -

(a)

a background note which is inevitably rather lengthy as the subject is a complex ons;

(b) a draft telegram for the Secretary of State to send

to the Governor of Hong Kong if he agrees with our proposals;

(c)

a copy of the visiting team's report (there are four annexes which are not attached); the main recommenda- tions are on pages 8, 9 and 11 and I would not ask Ministers to read more than that.

Mr Prescott, when in Opposition, was much concerned about this proposal. It has been modified since then to introduce a special written examination for Chinese-speaking aliens wishing to be accepted as officers below the rank of Master on Hong Kong ships. Informal soundings I have taken with Mr John Slater General Secretary of the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers Association, suggest that he regards this as a considerable improvement but he cannot commit seafaring unions to withdraw objections. It is possible that this proposal will be unacceptable to Hong Kong owners and that the separate register proposal will then be dropped.

4. It would, I think, be helpful if the Secretary of State were to call a meeting to discuss this matter with the FUSS CA&S, Mr Prescott, Sir Peter Thornton and officials. The PCO is anxious that we should not drop the proposal altogether and would wish to bring in their Ministers should we wish to do so.

J N ARCHER

MAK, 26 March 1974