HC Deb 02 November 1989 vol 159 cc268-9W
Mr. Barry Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the strategic implications for the United Kingdom of the transfer of the Hong Kong shipping register to the Chinese flag.

Mr. McLoughlin

On the transfer of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China in 1997 vessels on the Hong Kong shipping register will not be available to the United Kingdom for defence purposes.