C
XCPC
7.5.72
1.
2.
Hong Long Shipowaone are faced with a problem crested by the Futernational Transport Workers Pederation, whore Secretary in a Hr. C.lf. Blyth who was in Hong Kong for a perled some years ago, trying to re-organise our com0915 undomde As he achieved exactly nothing, he is a bit "anti" Hong Kong du particular.
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The ITP intends to take action agaiust "flags of convenienco" and "crowd of convenience" vessels, by erranging a complete boycott of ships by waterside workers throughout the world, (Australia being the first area), unless certain conditions are met.
Briefly,
A national flag slip carrying a national crew is in the clear providing the national seamen's union conccrued have agreed to the wages being paid.
A national flag chip carrying a "crew of convenience" (e.g. a British chip carrying an Indiam crow), is only to be in the clear provided Wages conform to the minimuu' vago scalo Laid down by the ITF, examples a carpenter C105 a month, able seaman end greaser £97 a month, otc.
3.8
A "flag of convenience" ship carrying a "crew of convenience", (o.gl a Panamcozdan registered ship with a Philippine crew), is only to be in the clear if the seamen belong to a national union affiliated to the ITP, and pay wages in accordance with the IPF scale.
Ľ
A "flag of convenienco" ship carrying a crew of convenience with
crew not belonging to a notional union affiliated to the ITP,
(0.8. a Panamanian registered ship with a Hong Kong crew) will be boycotted unless the Owner enrols all members of the crew in the "ITF Special Seafarers Section". The cost of this is no less than an enrolment fee of £4 per man plus 256 per mon per year, but in addition the crew have to be on the ITF scale
Hong Kong Shipowners' difficulty is not basically the Hong Kong Registry problem, which is presently being considered, but the fact that our Seamong Union is not, and never will bo, affiliated to the ITP. Thus even if our ships were in accordance with 1 above, they would not fulfil I77's requirements. Whereas in theory & Philippine owner could switch from a Prplamoxian flag to a Philippino flag, engage a Philippine crew, and get away with it, the Hong Kong owILOR could not take an equivalent course of action sirply because our vaion is not effiliated to the ITP. There are 36 mcabeye of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, (and mony move Cwners who are not members), with something like 15-20 million tons deadweight of shipping.
While this is largely an international problem, it does look on the face of at that the Hong Kong Gener is in a particularly difficult and vulnerable position. XX the ITP pawue choix declared lutenvious
sector offer 4 th to bajo Sima.
cont'd.
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