TNAG-2309-FCO40-3347-International-Convention-for-Safe-Containers-1972-extension--1991 — Page 11

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 1285

OF 111245Z JULY 91

INFO ROUTINE HAMILTON

HKC177/1

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MDLOAN 7227

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YOUR TELNO 1988 AND MY TELNO 1199 (NOT TO HAMILTON): INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR SAFE CONTAINERS

1. WE AWAIT THE INFORMATION FROM BERMUDA MENTIONED IN MY TUR (FOR HAMILTON: MRS GWYNN'S LETTER OF 19 JUNE TO KELLY REFERS).

BUT YOU MAY FIND IT HELPFUL TO HAVE OUR VIEWS TO DATE.

2. WE AGREE THAT ARTICLE II(3) OF THE CONVENTION INDICATES THAT ONLY ONE ''ADMINISTRATION'' IS CONTEMPLATED FOR EACH CONTRACTING PARTY. BUT WE SEE NO REASON WHY WE CANNOT INTERPRET THE TERM BROADLY SO AS TO ENCOMPASS ALL PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT BOTH IN THE UK AND IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES TO WHICH THE CONVENTION HAS BEEN EXTENDED. THIS IS A POSITION WE CAN DEFEND IF THE NEED ARISES TO OTHER CONTRACTING PARTIES: FOR PRACTICAL

PURPOSES IT MATTERS ONLY THAT THEY KNOW WHERE TO ADDRESS THEIR

APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL.

3. IT WOULD SEEM, THEREFORE, THAT WE COULD EXTEND THE CONVENTION TO HONG KONG BY YOUR DRAWING UP LOCAL REGULATIONS ON THE MODEL OF THE BERMUDA FREIGHT CONTAINERS (SAFETY CONVENTION) REGULATIONS 1986 AND BY OUR SENDING A NOTIFICATION TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE IMO. (THIS IS WHAT WE DID IN THE

CASE OF BERMUDA: COPY OF NOTIFICATION BY FAX TO

RICHARDSON ESB). THE LATTER MIGHT INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADDRESS OF THE SECTION OF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO WHICH APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL OF CONTAINERS SHOULD BE SENT. (BUT

SUCH INFORMATION WAS NOT/NOT INCLUDED IN THE NOTIFICATION

CONCERNING BERMUDA).

4.

WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL GIVE YOU ENOUGH INFORMATION TO BEGIN PREPARING FOR EXTENSION OF THE CONVENTION TO HONG KONG. BUT WE WOULD SUGGEST WAITING FOR BERMUDA'S REPLY TO THE QUESTIONS IN MY TUR BEFORE WE TAKE ANY FORMAL STEPS: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEIR ANSWERS MAY THROW UP DIFFICULTIES WITH OUR PROPOSED MECHANISM.

HURD

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