TNAG-0640-FCO40-788-Visits-of-nuclear-powered-merchant-ships-to-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 64

SECRET

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

Ry Enter & bu in 3 was f

231/418

CDS Drace-Francis Esq

Assistant Political Adviser Government Secretariat

HONG KONG

121

Jem Charles

REF.

Telephone 01-

13/5

Your reference SCR 16/5701/6IV

Our reference

Date

HKK 175/2

21 April 1977.

VISIT OF THE "OTTO HAHN" TO HONG KONG

1. Thank you for your letter SCR 16/5701/6IV of 15 March.

2=

I have been wondering admittedly rather late in the day whether the possibility of a successful visit by the "Otto Hahn" to Hong Kong later this year really justifies all the work that we are now discussing and which someone will eventually need to do, and where therefore exclusively) British interests lie in this case. In general our own position is as follows:

(a)

(b)

(c)

we have no political objections to the proposed visit by the "Otto Hahn" and in the interests of Anglo- German relations generally and, in particular, of visits by our own nuclear submarines to FRG ports we would prefer on balance to see it go forward;

we would wish to be satisfied that your safety arrange- ments are satisfactory in view of the potential Parliamentary/Ministerial interest if something went awry. In practice we would like to have, by the eve of the "Otto Hahn"'s visit, assurances from the Department of Trade and the Safety and Reliability Directorate of the UKAEA, who are HMG's Advisers on these matters, that the arrangements made are up to UK standards; but

we are not prepared to assume responsibility for the safety of the "Otto Hahn" during the visit or for any admini- strative arrangements (e.g. insurance) which may be necessary. Nor are the Ministry of Defence, who are involved solely with the activities of HMS Tamar.

3. We have the following specific comments on the matters raised in your letter:-

(a)

We appreciate the arguments in paragraph 5 of your letter but, on the MOD's advice, maintain the view that a special safety scheme is necessary to cover the "Otto Hahn"'s visit

/ (though

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