TNAG-0640-FCO40-788-Visits-of-nuclear-powered-merchant-ships-to-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 92

i

CONFIDENTIAL

-

2

5.

Until there are a good many more "OTTO HAHNS" around, I do not think there is much point in trying to set up a completely new Hong Kong Government organisation and procedure to deal with nuclear-propelled non-warship visits. In fact, I understand that the US S "SAVANNAH" (which was not disimilar to the "OTTO HAHN") visited Hong Kong on several occasions between 1967 and 1970 and it is clear that it was handled in exactly the same way as propose now with the "OTTO HAHN". It seems unlikely that we will get another nuclear-propelled non-warship visit for a long time and provided sufficient warning is given, such visits should not cause us intolerable difficulties.

6.

if

To sum up therefore, our position is as follows:

(a) MODU K can agree to make available Naval

NUSAFE facilities, including coverage by the Alverstoke team, during the period of the "OTTO HAHN's" visit (and come to whatever agreement may be necessary to obtain repayment for any expenses from the Germans);

(b) you can obtain from the Germans (presumably

through the German Federal Embassy in London) a Note providing the same degree of indemnity as you obtained in the case of the Southampton visit - and in due course we would like copies of it for our Legal Department and Government Information Services, and

(c)

G KSS can fulfil the requirements laid down in the Operations Order e.g. as regards tugs,

then, we would have no objection to the visit.

Yans eer,

ем

Chales.

(CDS Drace-Francis)

CC

Mr Makepeace, Energy Dept

F CO

Encl:

CONFIDENTIAL