2600224
C.S. 84
XCR(72)243
RESTRICTED
· 2 -
Registration of Seamen
5
The Seamen's Recruiting Office maintains a register of the names of seamen who are interested in serving on foreign-going ships. Under the Ordinance, the register is divided into four parts with the names of seamen being entered in the appropriate part of the register according to their qualifications. Part I consists of seamen who are in active sea service; Part II contains particulars of any seamen who has been in sea service at some time earlier than before the application for registration; trainee seamen are entered in Part III; Part IV lists those seamen who are to be recruited through Licensed Crew Departments. The maintenance of a four-part register has been found to be impracticable. The record system has been streamlined and as a result, Part II of the register has become superfluous: clauses 4 to 7 and 10 amend the Ordinance by deleting all references to Part II of the register.
Medical Examination
6
When a seamen applies to have his name entered in the register, he is required to pass an examination to determine his fitness for a sea career. However, the Superintendent of the Seamen's Recruiting Office has no authority under the Ordinance to require a seamen to undergo a medical examination after registration, even when there are indications that the man has become unsuitable to work in the close confines of a ship. There have unhappily been a number of cases where seamen have become deranged and thus potential threats to their fellow crew members. It is proposed by clause 13 (new section 17B), therefore, that the Superintendent be empowered to order any seaman to undergo a medical examination and to suspend the seaman from the register if he fails to pass it. If, subsequently, the seaman is certified to be medically fit, his name will be re-entered into the register.
Discipline
7
Shipowners and employers are becoming increasingly concerned over the high rate of desertion by Hong Kong seamen, particularly those serving on ships calling at ports in North America. Hong Kong seamen are acquiring a bad reputation in the industry. The penalties against deserters are considered to be too low to act as effective deterrents. It is proposed therefore to increase the penalties substantially.
8
Under clause 13 of the amending legislation, which adds section 17A to the Ordinance, the Superintendent may summarily suspend a seaman's registration where he has reasonable grounds for believing that the seaman has deserted or has refused without cause to join his ship. The Superintendent is required to serve notice on the seaman, giving grounds for the suspension and the time and date when the seaman may make representation to the Superintendent. After hearing repre- sentations from the seaman, the Superintendent may, in the case of desertion, suspend the seaman's registration for a maximum period of twenty-four months; for other offences the maximum period of
RESTRICTED