13/ex
but they doubt whether the changes will necessarily go as far
as Mr Pao has suggested, namely complete relaxation.
3. As to the acceptance of foreign nationals who hold what
Mr Pao has described as "equivalent national qualifications"
it is extremely difficult to make a realistic comparison of
the standards of training and competency as between the
systems applied in different countries. Within the Commonwealth,
with standards and examination arrangements modelled closely on
the UK pattern, a system has developed in which there is
reciprocal recognition and acceptance of the certificates of
competency issued by member countries. Attempts have been made
and are still being made internationally by Inter-governmental
Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO) and International
Labour Office (ILO) to develop internationally acceptable
standards in this sphere but progress along this path is not
easy. The whole trend at present, in the light of the spate
of strandings and collisions in English Channel and elsewhere,
is to look more closely at the systems of certification and
supporting standards applied by the flag States whose ships have
been involved. To sum up therefore, much consideration is
being given both nationally and internationally to manning
standards and certification and changes will undoubtedly follow -
but not in the short term.
4. In his letter to Mr Pao of 5 May, the Director of Marine
made it quite clear that he had been given powers under the
Merchant Shipping (Aliens Employment) Ordinance to enable aliens
to be employed in British shipping. In spite of what Mr Pao has
said the DTI agree that the problems of operating under the
British flag occasioned by shortages of qualified officers
could be alleviated by the judicious use of the Director's
2 -
/powers