TNAG-2308-FCO40-3345-Future-of-Hong-Kong-shipping-register-1991 — Page 94

taking place on the same issue at the UN Conference),

have enabled us to form fairly specific views on the way

we see the Hong Kong Register developing.

3.4.

The position at the UN Conference is

particularly important since, with international

recognition of the Hong Kong Register being an essential

factor in its likely success, anything less stringent

than that adopted by the UN Conference might lead to

accusations of 'flag of convenience'. In summary, the UN

Conference position is that the genuine link may be

established with regard either to manning or to

ownership. The relevant extract of the (draft)

International Agreement is at Annex C.

3.5.

We have taken the following factors into

account in proposing the criteria for the genuine link:-

(a)

Hong Kong is a British port of registry

and the present ownership links include

companies incorporated in Hong Kong or in

the UK or in any British Dependent

Territory;