TNAG-0959-FCO40-1178-Shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 59

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A HONG KONG REGISTER

Introduction and Summary

1. Hong Kong is at present a port of registry under the British flag.

There have in the past been demands for a separate Hong Kong register

This paper and there have recently been signs that these may be reviving. considers the advantages and disadvantages of a separate Hong Kong register for both Hong Kong and for the UK. It concludes that although there could short-term gains (and also costs) for Hong Kong, in the long run it is

not in either Hong Kong's or the UK's interest.

The Present Position

2.

Both the conditions of access to the British flag in Hong Kong

and the consequences of registration are identical to those applicable in Metropolitan UK. In order to be registered a vessel must belong either to a British subject or to a company established under, and subject to the laws of some part of HM dominions and having its principal place

of business there. Once registered its master, first and second mate,

and first and second engineer must each have certificates of service of

competency granted in the UK under the Merchant Shipping Acts or a

colonial certificate of competency having the same force.

means that its officers must be British.

This effectivel

(Note 1). The UK is a party

on Hong Kong's behalf to all the major safety, conventions which the

territory polices from its own resources.

There are no

doubts about

standards of vessel safety or safe manning in respect of vessels

registered in (or calling at) Hong Kong.

A Separate Hong Kong Register

3.

In 1973 there was pressure from Sir Y K Pao, Chairman of Worldwide

Shipping (the world's largest private shipping company) for the setting up

of a separate Hong Kong register which would not have the British officer

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