TNAG-2531-FCO40-3701-Hong-Kong-shipping-matters-1997 — Page 120

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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DETERMINED TO ACT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

IT IS FOR THIS REASON

THAT THE NORWEGIANS BELIEVE THAT BILATERAL CONTACT WITH INDONESIA AND WITH HER NEIGHBOURS IN ORDER TO FOSTER REGIONAL ACTION IS THE BEST APPROACH FOR THE MOMENT. AFTER THAT THE NEXT STAGE MIGHT BE AN OECD DEMARCHE, TOGETHER WITH ACTION IN OTHER INTERNATIONAL FORA. THE GOVERNMENT DO NOT THINK PIRACY IN SOUTH EAST ASIA SHOULD BE TACKLED BY INTERNATIONAL PATROLS. POLICING IS A TASK FOR THE AUTHORITIES OF THE COASTAL COUNTRIES.

5. THE NORWEGIANS ARE INVOLVED IN DIALOGUE IN THE IMO, BUT WHILE THEY BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE IMO SHOULD TAKE A STRONG LINE THEY THINK THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE THAN IMO INITIATIVES. HAGEN WONDERED IN ANY CASE WHETHER WE HAD MISSED A CHANCE FOR AN IMO INITIATIVE WITH THE IMO COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEEK.

NORWAY WOULD NOT TAKE THE INITIATIVE ON ANY REGIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE BUT WOULD CONSIDER ANY CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSAL. IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO CONSULT AND INCLUDE THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY TO AVOID A SCENARIO IN WHICH MARITIME STATES

APPEARED SIMPLY TO BE PRESSURISING COASTAL STATES.

6.

NORWAY'S AMBASSADOR IN KUALA LUMPUR AND A SHIPOWNERS' REPRESENTATIVE ATTENDED THE IMB SEMINAR IN FEBRUARY. IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE KUALA LUMPUR OFFICE OF THE IMB SHOULD ACT AS A

FOCAL POINT FOR RECEIVING REPORTS OF ATTACKS IN THE AREA. THE

SCHEME WOULD BE FINANCED BY THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY. THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE NOT TAKEN A LINE ON THIS, BUT BELIEVE THAT IF MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE AND INDONESIA THINK THE INITIATIVE WOULD BE HELPFUL, THEN THE INDUSTRY SHOULD CONTRIBUTE. SIMILARLY, IF THE QUESTION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR COASTAL STATES WERE TO ARISE, THE NORWEGIANS WOULD BE WARY OF THE PRECEDENT THAT WOULD BE SET BY, SAY, THE CHARGING OF A FEE FOR PASSING THROUGH THE MALACCA STRAITS, BUT WOULD LOOK TO THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY TO PAY.

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