TNAG-1314-FCO40-1696-Working-papers-for-use-at-talks-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 35

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réfuse registration some of these ports of registry have

proved to be attractive to owners and now have a substantial

number of old ships with poor safety standards on their

registers, with no legislation and administration to control

them. This is an unsatisfactory situation which has attracted

criticism in UNCTAD and IMO (for instance as a result of

serious casualties) and accusations that some parts of the

British register effectively operate as "flags of convenience".

It is neither in the interests of the territories concerned,

nor of the UK, as the sovereign state responsible internationally for fulfilling British obligations under international Conventions, that ships flying the British flag should be

subject to different standards according to the port where they

are registered. Consultations with the Governments of

Dependent Territories have confirmed that their views on this

matter are identical with those of HMG.

The new framework

29.

In order to take account of the considerations listed

in paragraph 11 of this paper and to provide for each territory

to operate a register commensurate with its needs and its ability

to maintain the necessary marine administration, the Government

intends to establish a new comprehensive framework applying

to the United Kingdom and all British possessions, along the

following lines.

i The Government would take powers in the new Act

to define different Categories of ports of registry.

The definitions would be such as to minimise

Convention requirements, for example:

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