TNAG-0510-FCO40-575-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 7

Philip Ballard Esq 202 Cable Street London E1

MS 96/9/08

PS/PUSS (CA&S) Mr Archer MAR (on file)

Thank you for your letter of 8 September concerning the

possibility of a separate register of shipping for

Hong Kong.

The two newspaper articles to which you refer were

indeed speculative. The facts are that a team from the

Department visited Hong Kong at the end of last year to

study the question in detail. Since their return there

have been further consultations with the Government of

Hong Kong but no firm proposals for establishing a

separate register have yet emerged.

I can assure you that I attach great importance to the

standards of safety of ships registered in Hong Kong

being equivalent to those registered in the United Kingdom and that the dangers to which you call attention in your letter are being borne fully in mind by Ministers

and officials alike. Certainly the trade unions

concerned will be fully consulted about any proposals which may come forward.

SoS/Trade