weight. But in
in international fora the nuances of the route by which a member state is elected to the governing body count in attitude forming and in lobbying. Our policy objective should be therefore to retain for as long as practicable,
as long as practicable, our position in category A.
4. Although the term "largest interest in providing international shipping services" has not been defined, the litmus test used by the IMO is the world merchant tonnage league. Conceivably, the UK could validly claim membership of category A on the basis of its position as the major world centre for shipping finance, insurance and Admiralty jurisdiction and for its role as IMO's host government. However, given the general weight which is attached to the tonnage league table, it is appropriate to examine ways
in which the UK's tonnage figures could be enhanced. One option is to score the tonnage of Dependent Territories in the UK's assessment.
Position of the UK Dependent Territories
5. Of the UK's Dependent Territories, Hong Kong is the only one with an established position at IMO as the sole Associate Member.
As such it pays а 50% annual assessment. Hong Kong's unique position is reinforced by the recent agreement by the Chinese that they can remain Associate Members post 1997.
6. No other UK Dependent Territory makes an annual contribution to IMO or could be held to do so through the UK's membership of the Organisation. This is a sore point with many IMO Members who take exception both to the absence of a financial contribution and to the apparent lack of any international accountability by the Dependent Territories (or the UK) for their maritime performance.
7.
Although a number of IMO Member States are developing "offshore" registeries, the established UK Dependent Territory registers, save Hong Kong, constitute a ready focus of criticism and concern about, the development of such registers. Criticism focuses on the fact that the IMO Conventions have not been extended to the Dependent Territories on a consistent basis.
of,
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