CONFIDENTIAL
-405
6911
*584.
K J Doyle Esq
Marine Division
Department of Trade
Sunley House
90-93 High Holborn LONDON
LAST
233 4777
D/DS16/680/1/77
HKK 175/2
27 May 1977
28
30 (31
る
23
VISIT OF THE "OTTO HAHN" TO HONG KONG
I understand that Richard Makepeace in the FCO's Energy Department has already telephoned you today and forwarned you
1.
of the advent of this letter, and explained some of the background to it.
2.
Some months ago the West Germans approached ourselves and the Hong Kong Government with the proposal that their nuclear-powered merchantman, the "Otto Hahn", visit Hong Kong some time this year. GKSS, the "Otto Hahn"'s owners, subsequently visited Hong Kong early in February to discuss arrangements for the visit. The Hong Kong Government's Marine Department, the GKSS representative and HMS TAMAR, (the Royal Naval Station in Hong Kong), agreed an "operational plan" to cover the "Otto Hahn's visit. The MOD (DS16) have had a look at this and are content with it. I would be grateful if your Department would clear it also and, as I understand you agreed with Makepeace, seek the UKAEA's clearance also. (I enclose another copy of the plan for this purpose.)
3. I would be grateful if you could also look over and clear the draft note with which the Hong Kong Government proposes to reply to the original German approach (also enclosed), seeking the ŪKAEA's views on this also.
4. I should perhaps add that,, though the Hong Kong Government is responsible for all internal Hong Kong matters, the UK Government takes responsibility for external affairs, including the "Otto Hahn". visit. We have already told the Hong Kong Government that we expect the safety standards imposed in respect of this visit to be as high as those that would be (or indeed have been) imposed in the event of the visit of the same or a similar ship to a UK port.
cc:
Mr Makepeace ENERGY Mr Boardman DS15 MOD
T J David
Hong Kong & General Department
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