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at the end of 1973, to investigate in detail the feasibility of setting up a separate register. The team's report was sent to the Governor of Hong Kong and further detailed comments were made by this Department last summer on special examinations for experienced seamen in mid-career. currently serving as officers on Hong Kong owned ships and on the approval of equipment and materials for incorporation in Hong Kong ships. We are still awaiting the Hong Kong Government's reactions.
6. Ministers have not yet taken a view on whether a separate register of shipping should be set up for Hong Kong. If the Governor were to report that it was likely that shipowners would transfer ships to a Hong Kong register under the conditions now proposed, the next step would be to initiate further discussions with both sides of the British shipping industry. So far, the seafarers' unions have consistently opposed the proposal to set up a Hong Kong register.
7. In fact the interest of the Hong Kong shipowners generally seems to have diminished. They had apparently intended to put their new ships which would be equipped and crewed to the required standards, on a separate register but there may now be less scope for this in view of cancellations of orders and the current depressed state of the shipping business.
Nevertheless,
at his meeting with Lord Goronwy-Roberts, fr Pao said that he was still very much in favour of a separate liong Kong register and hoped that means could be found to overcome the outstanding difficulties.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.