with
SUMMARY OF ANSWERS BY DTI TO HONG KONG DEPARTMENT QUESTIONNAIRE
1. There is nothing to prevent the Director of Marine, Hong
Kong granting nationality exemptions of up to a year but
whether he would consider this a judicious use of his powers is
another matter. He would be expected to allow exemptions on
British lines
(a)
-
ie only when
40
(b)
(၁)
"representative organisations" confirmed no
certificated British officer was able and willing to
take the post;
the ship was habitually employed between ports
outside Hong Kong;
the officer exempted held a certificate of
competency from a reputable marine authority" or,
exceptionally, had specialised experience;
and (a) the period did not exceed one year.
2.
An exemption issued by Hong Kong to a Master, Chief Officer
or Chief Engineer would be inviolable in foreign ports but would
be "at the discretion of marine authorities" in United Kingdom or
other Commonwealth ports.
In practice, the latter would
probably not interfere but, to secure "firm and automatic
acceptance" of Hong Kong exemptions throughout the Commonwealth
would require detailed consultations, would involve considerable
work to administer even if it found general favour and would
create a clear precedent for reciprocal facilities.
3. Until British and Commonwealth policy on nationality
requirements is changed, officers holding British certificates of
competency are entitled to employment in preference to aliens.
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/As
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