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of Hong Kong adopting an officer manning nationality
requirement different from that of the UK. Under
Section 735(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, it
would appear possible for the Hong Kong Legislature
to repeal current requirements of nationality for
senior officers. Time does not allow the full
legal implications of this suggestion to be properly
considered before Mr Pao's next visit but they would
require very careful examination since the highly
valuable Commonwealth reciprocity in the acceptance of
all marine certificates of competency might be lost to
Hong Kong if the Colony's marine legislation in this
respect differed from that of the
he UK.
7. Other issues raised in the Director of Marine's
letter to Mr Pao and commented on by DTI are not.
major stumbling blocks. Despite a slightly different
approach to the Colonial Secretary on 27 April, Mr Pao
has already informed Mr Boyle that, providing the
Hong Kong Government can meet him on the question of
officer manning, he would withdraw objection to crew
accommodation and other structural, safety and radio
requirements.
8. Returning, therefore, to the crux of the problem
officer manning the DTI have endorsed the Director
of Marine's attitude (in his letter to Mr Pao) as being
reasonable and in accordance with DTI thinking. They
have also said ørally that they are in full agreement
with the final paragraph of Mr Milburn's letter which
reads:
- 3-
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/"In conclusion