HC Deb 30 October 1989 vol 159 cc61-2W
Mr. Barry Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the transitional arrangements for shipping on the Hong Kong register.

Mr. Maude

Section VIII of annex I to the Sino-British joint declaration provides for the HKSAR to maintain Hong Kong's previous systems of shipping management and regulation and to continue to maintain a shipping register. Work is well advanced on the introduction of the new Hong Kong register which will remain in place after 1997. On its introduction, as a transitional arrangement, vessels then registered in Hong Kong will have the right to transfer to the new register.