43
FSR 3164/6
CONFIDENTIAL
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE
MR Morland Esq
1 VICTORIA STREET
HKK RECEIVED
INDEX
по
LONDON SWIH DET
15/2
Y 60. 51
12 APR 1979
REGISTRY Action Taken
J17.48
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
MAED
Room 66A/1
Government Offices
Great George Street
London SW1A 2AH
Ресь Мсова
Telephone Direct Line
Switchboard
01215 5624
01-215 7877
11 April 1979
台
PROPOSED UK/CHINA MARITIME AGREEMENT
In your letter of 3 April, you asked me for a clear statement of the benefits which UK shipowners could expect to derive from a Maritime Agreement and how they would be disadvantaged ir no such agreement were secured.
2 In my view the benefits to UK shipowners would be both practical and psychological.
3
In the particular circumstances of shipping services to a developing state-trading country such as China, it is clearly advantageous to have assurance of:
a) protection against flag discrimination,
b)
most favoured nation treatment in operational matters,
c)
expedition and simplification of port formalities,
d) diplomatic and consular access to crew members,
e) relief from shipping taxes.
Although these taxes are at a relatively low level, they could make the difference between breaking even and making a loss in present circumstances.
4
These practical benefits, which would provide the basic for more assured opportunities for UK shipping, are already enjoyed by most of the world's major shipping notions. Maritime Agreements with China were concluded between 1973 and-1976 by:
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Japan, Sweden.
CONFIDENTIAL
/ The
MG
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