TNAG-0510-FCO40-575-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 98

PS/Secretary A & S

Reference

сс

Mr Hubback

RECEIVED IN

REGIST

No. 51

29 JAN1974

LACK 21

<v」3

Mr Archer M

Dep Sec

SP

Mr Brigstocke

Mr Wakefield EJU

Mr Manson SG

Mr Marchant SBP Mr Standen

Miss Lackey

MARI

CRE2

Mr A Stuart FCO

5

HONG KONG REGISTER

We would like to suggest two amendments to the draft telegram to the Governor of Hong Kong attached to Mr Archer's minute of 16 January:

8.

b.

Para 5. Although the Chamber of Shipping have been told that any arrangements for the Hong Kong Register on approval of Japanese marine equipment will be extended to the UK Register, we are anxious to avoid too firm a commitment on this point until we are clearer about the extent of any concessions we.might be able to negotiate with the Japanese. The British marine equipment industry's interests will need to be protected under any proposed arrangements and we would like to maintain maximum flexibility at this stage. With Mr Archer's approval, we would suggest an amended opening sentence to read "We believe, however, that standards for safety equipment, materials, installations and survey ought to be the same

Para 7. This issue bears very strong resemblance to the question of LAS hir Traffio rights in mong Meny of which the Secretary A & S will be aware. Our view is that it might be prejudicial to our negotiating position in the Hong Kong shipowners were ocheted at this early stage.

iz We would therefore suggest either the deletion f the whole peragraph at this stupe or its amendment to exclude reference to talks with the owners until we have the Governor's views. Fr Archer is doubtful whether the Covenor can proceed without such consultations and prefers the paragraph to stand as drafted.

י

2 We are looking further into the implications of the profosec scheme for UK marine equipment interests as suggested by the Secretary A ↳ S and hope to convene a further meeting with SBP and MAR divisions next week.

TG Harris

CRE2

Room 16 V/S

Extn 7455

January 1974

376 D 158975 30M 1 P Gp uba