TNAG-0858-FCO40-1068-Proposed-UK-China-bilateral-shipping-agreement-1979 — Page 92

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ANY SHIP-REPAIRING LOST TO HONG KONG WOULD GO ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION AND NOT TO THE UK.

(111) SURVEYS OF BRITISH SHIPS IN THE REGION PRESENTLY CARRIED OUT BY HONG KONG SURVEYORS WOULD HAVE TO BE CARRIED OUT BY SURVEYORS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE IF THEY WERE TO BE ACCEPTED AS PART OF THE METROPOLITAN. AGREEMENT. THIS WOULD CAUSE ADDED EXPENSE AND INCONVENIENCE TO BRITISH SHIPOWNERS AND INCREASED DEMAND FOR THE SERVICES OVARSEAS OF DEPARTMENT OF TRADE SURVEYORS.

4. ON THE POLITICAL SIDE, A METROPOLITAN ONLY AGREEMENT COULD, AND PROBABLY WOULD, BE READ AS INDICATING THAT THE UK WAS REDUCING ITS COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG. CHINA'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS HONG KONG IS, AT PRESENT, REASONABLY BENEVOLENT AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE FAIRLY ROBUST. NEVERTHELESS, ANY SIGN THAT THE UK IS PREPARED, IF EFFECT, TO ACQUIESCE IN CHINA'S POSITION ABOUT THE STATUS OF HONG KONG, COULD BE DISTURBING TO LOCAL OPINION. IN THE PRESENT EXCELLENT STATE OF RELATIONS THIS WOULD NO DOUBT BE BEARABLE, BUT

IT IS NOT SOMETHING WHICH SHOULD BE DONE LIGHTLY, NOR WITHOUT A VERY TANGIBLE BENEFIT IN RETURN.

5. ALTHOUGH WE SEE NO VALUE IN SUCH AN AGREEMENT FOR HONG KONG AND CONSIDERABLE TECHNICAL AND POLITICAL DISADVANTAGES, WE WOULD NOT WISH TO STAND IN THE WAY OF ACHIEVING IT IF THIS WERE STRONGLY IN THE UK'S INTERESTS. I PRESUME YOU REALLY ARE SURE THAT THIS

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6. IF THERE IS TO BE AN AGREEMENT WE WOULD MUCH PREFER HONG KONG TO BE INCLUDED. IF THIS PROVES IMPOSSIBLE AND HONG KONG WERE EXCLUDED, THE MINIMUM SAFEGUARDS WE SHOULD NEED WOULD BE A FIRM ASSURANCE FROM THE CHINESE, WHICH COULD BE MADE PUBLIC IF NECESSARY, THAT (1) HONG KONG REGISTERED SHIPS WOULD IN PRACTICE BE ACCORDED TREATMENT SIMILAR TO THAT GIVEN TO OTHER BRITISH SHIPS (IE DUES ETC.) AND (11) THAT THE VALIDITY OF CERTIFICATES OF REPAIR AND SURVEY ISSUED HERE WOULD BE RECOGNISED AND WOULD NOT PREJUDICE THE ''METROPOLITAN' CHARACTER OF THE SHIP. WE CANNOT REASONABLY EXPECT CATEGORIC ASSURANCES ON THE PROTECTION OF HONG KONG SEAMEN BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE NO WORSE OFF THAN NOW AND, IF POSSIBLE, THAT THEIR POSITION WAS IMPROVED.

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