TNAG-0640-FCO40-788-Visits-of-nuclear-powered-merchant-ships-to-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 26

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE

R+ R

75%

Sunley House, 90-93 High Holborn, LONDON, WC1V 6LP Telephone: 01-405 6911

584

4 August 1977

ON MN Folkind

× 551

I'mnd 2812

65/1465.

1465

IMG.

?fco

Yes.

Yr Ref HKK 1752

Our Ref MS 77/20/08

T J David Esq

Hong Kong & General Department Foreign Commonwealth Office

Near David.

VISIT OF THE OTTO HAHN TO HONG KONG

RECI

-

FR IN

5 AUG 1977

(23 (30) THKK 175/2

I am very sorry that I have taken so long to reply to your letter of 27 May (and now your reminder of 2 August) about the proposed visit of the OTTO HAHN to Hong Kong. As I mentioned to you on the telephone, however, bringing a nuclear powered merchant ship into any port for the first time always seems to generate a great deal of preparatory work and involve far too many interests.

On the question of responsibility, I believe I also mentioned to you that the UK has extended the 1960 Safety of Life at Sea Convention to Hong Kong. Accordingly, it is our view that the Hong Kong Authorities in admitting the OTTO HAHN are bound to comply with Chapter VIII of the 1960 Convention which deals with all nuclear powered ships except war ships. It is implicit in our extending the Convention to Hong Kong that we consider the Hong Kong Government to be fully responsible for and capable of meeting their safety regulations as required by SOLAS 1960.

Given the above state of affairs, I am not clear why the UK should accept responsibility for the visit and treat it as an external matter. Indeed, I wonder whether in view of the SOLAS position we can and should do so through the device of deciding to regard a merchant ship as a warship. In the (albeit very unlikely) event of something going wrong may I ask who you envisage would be answerable. Bearing in mind the marine safety is the responsibility of this Department, and the fact that the UK speaks for Hong Kong in the International Maritime Consultative Organisation, I imagine that this Department would be very much involved. No doubt your own ? Convention Department are better placed than we are to consider

this aspect.

I am sorry to send what may appear to be a negative answer but I think it is very important to get the issue of responsibility fully understood and accepted. In our view the safety aspects of the visit of the OTTO HAHN to Hong Kong are entirely for the Hong Kong Marine Department and they must ensure that the visit is carried out in accordance with the SOLAS Regulations. If for one reason or another

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