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Authority may specify.
If the seaman fails to pass the
medical examination, his registration may be suspended until
he produces a medical certificate that he is again fit for
such service.
10.
The incidence of desertion of Hong Kong registered
seamen has become a serious problem affecting Hong Kong, the
shipping industry, and the country in which the seaman
deserts. The reputation of Hong Kong as a recruiting centre
and the livelihood of Hong Kong seamen will suffer if the
number of desertions is not reduced.
Section 18 is
inadequate to meet this problem and it is necessary therefore
to enact measures which are more adequate and stringent.
Clause 13 adds section 17A and clause 14 amends section 18
for this purpose.
11.
At present, the Superintendent may not suspend
the seaman's registration prior to considering the matter
under section 18; before he exercises his powers under
section 18, the Superintendent is required under section 19
to serve notice on the seaman. This is often not possible
because of the difficulty in tracing the seaman. Section
17A provides for the immediate suspension of a seaman's
registration by the Superintendent, where he has reasonable
grounds for believing that the seaman has deserted his ship
or neglected, or refused without reasonable cause, to join
his ship or proceed to sea. Subsection (2) requires notice
of the grounds of the suspension and of the date when the
seaman may appear before the Superintendent to make
representation in the matter to be served on the seaman as
soon as practicable. The suspension continues until the