TNAG-2898-FCO40-4172-Hong-Kong-piracy-in-the-South-China-Sea-1993 — Page 8

COVERING RESTRICTED

Ms Fisher AMD

CC.HID.. Ros Moore,

380/1

RECEIVED IN FUCISTRY

23 JUN 1993

DESK OFICIN INDEX

REGISTRY

PA Action Taken

Mr Bunten

ка

piracy 12/10

RECORD OF MEETING WITH DUT AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS : MAY 1993

21

1. I attach a record of the meeting. As you are aware the main topic of discussion was piracy which has been recorded by Ms Moore, HKD (copy attached). The only comment I would add is that Mr Wall explained that the paper produced by the Hong Kong Government mentions the murder of Captain Bashforth which is a very

contentious issue not only in Indonesia but in the region as a 7 whole. The proposed withdrawal of the Hong Kong paper would therefore have to be very carefully handled. Mr Morris agreed but added that HKG wanted to get across the fact that this case is different from Indonesia. The principle is a different and better one it has just gone wrong at the edges.

2.

I attach the record of the other two topics of discussion at this meeting, namely the North Atlantic Ice Patrol and the International Oil Pollution Compensation fund.

Chaise Takey

C E Tuhey

AMD

26 May 1993

COVERING RESTRICTED

RECORD OF MEETING WITH DOT AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS : 21 MAY 1993

PRESENT

DOT

------

Frank Wall

HKD Rod Bunten

Ros Moore

AMD Deborah Fisher

—

Claire Tuhey

North Atlantic Ice Patrol

1.

HKG

Dereck Hall (HKGOL) Duncan Drummond (HKGOL)

Jim Morris (HKG, Security

Branch)

It

Mr Wall explained that the DOT are still looking at this Service and were unsure how this years' situation will develop. would be extremely difficult to provide a separate invoice for Hong Kong for this year as there were problems on the accuracy of the bill. However the issue should be clarified in time for next year so that Dependent Territories could be charged separately. Mr Drummond said that this did not alleviate the present problem. Hong Kong were willing to pay their contribution but need to have a method whereby this payment is recovered from the users of the Service - hence the necessity for a separate bill. Hong Kong agreed to pay but would not pay for non-contributing beneficiaries.

2. Mr Wall questioned the concept of the NAIP Service. The UK was reluctant to move away from the NAIP as a whole when the US and Canada have not expressed doubts on the NAIP itself but on payment. Mr Drummond suggested that a "port dues" method could be used. Mr Wall said that port dues are taxes unique to the UK. But the existing system was very cumbersome. A formal meeting with all the governments concerned was needed rather than the present arrangement of a US/Canadian bilateral. Whichever way there would not be a separate bill for this year.

International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund

3.

Mr Wall said that a formal approach to Mr Jacobsson, director, IOPC on Hong Kong's application for observer status was needed. The London Convention on marine dumping cited by Hong Kong as a precedent for Hong Kong having observer status was inaccurate. The London Convention was open to all IMO states. was agreed that a meeting should be arranged with Mr Jacobsson for next week.

It

вели Толез Today

CE Tuhey

Aviation and Maritime Depatment

26 May 1993

Shaun Riciclen

SED