RC 400
RESTRICTED
60
8
PESTRICTED
FM FCD 251615Z JUL 79
TO ROUTINE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 429 OF 26 JULY
INFO SAVING HONG KONG
SHIPOWNER MISSION.
GEORGE'S TELE-LETTERS OF 8 AND 31 MAY:
Link
HKK
with
RECEIVED # REO MY NG.
30 JUL 1979
OPAVER
PA
顺
27/7
Re(62
1. DOT HAVE NOW CONSULTED THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF BRITISH SHIPPING (GCBS) ABOUT THE PROPOSAL FOR AN EARLY VISIT BY BRITISH SHIPOWNERS. IN LINE WITH THE GENERALLY MORE SOBER ASSESSMENT OF EARLY PROSPECTS THERE IS NOW LESS PRESSURE FOR IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE CHINA TRADE, BUT AS IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO NEGOTIATE SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS THE PRESENT MAY BE A GOOD TIME TO GET THINGS MOVING. THE GCBS WOULD THEREFORE LIKE TO CONDUCT EXPLORATORY TALKS WITH THE CHINESE ABOUT INCREASING BRITISH INVOLVEMENT IN THE CARRIAGE OF TRADE WITH CHINA INCLUDING THE RESUMPTION OF REGULAR SHIPPING SER- VICES. THEY (AND WE) SEE THIS AS A USEFUL PRELIMINARY TO A RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS ON A MARITIME AGREEMENT AND THE POSSIBLE NEGOTIATION OF AN UNDERSTANDING ON ACCESS TO CARGOES.
2. PLEASE THEREFORE APROACH THE CHINESE WITH A VIEW TO SETTING UP
A VISIT OF ABOUT ONE WEEK'S DURATION TO TAKE PLACE PREFERABLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR OR EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR.
PLEASE ADVISE WHICH ORGANISATIONS WOULD BE CONCERNED APART FROM
THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS.
5. THE MAIN SUBJECTS WHICH THE GCBS WISH TO DISCUSS ARE !
THE VOLUMES AND TYPES OF CARGOES TO AND FROM CHINA, PARTICULARLY THESE SUITABLE FOR A REGULAR LINER SERVICE: THE METHODS AND CRITERIA OF ALLOCATION OF SUCH CARGOES AT BOTH END OF THE TRADE: TARIFFS: BERTHING ARRANGEMENTS: THE USE OF NAVIGATIONAL AIDS: AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONTAINERISATION INCLUDING FEEDER SERVICES, SOME OF THE MISSION WOULD WELCOME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE PORT
CONDITIONS FOR THEMSELVES.
4. THE MISSION WOULD CONSIST OF REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERESTED COMPANIES TOGETHER WITH AN OFFICIAL OF THE GCOS, IT WOULD TOTAL BETWEEN 7 AND 10. MEMBERS WOULD GENERALLY NOT BE AT AT BOARD LEVEL BUT THENE MIGHT BE ADVANTAGE IN THE HEAD OF THE MISSION BEING A SENIOR OFFICE-HOLDER OF THE GCDS, POSSIBLY THE PRESENT OR VICE PRESIDENT, SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS A DOT OFFICIAL MIGHT ACCOMPANY
RESTRICTED
THE MISSION
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