Attitude of Hong Kong Government
Mr Pao's attitude as expressed to PUSS (Aerospace & Shipping) on 28.9.72
(ii) Hong Kong long term residents who are not British subjects might be permitted to take the Hong Kong certificate examinations in all grades except Master.
(f) Think that separate
register would increase prestige and revenue of Hong Kong Government.
(g) Views above shared by Hong Kong Ship- owners Association and General Chamber of Commerce.
(h) Hong Kong should
have authority to approve safety equipment etc, particularly those items of Hong Kong manufacture.
Mr Pao's attitude as given in an address to the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East in Nov 1972
(e) Implies that it is right
that the shipowner
should be able to take advantage of registering ships under certain flags to obtain competitive advantages of lower wages and less attractive conditions for crews although he argues that the inter- national character of shipping produces great equalising pressures on wages and conditions.
(f) Inspection and certifica-
tion of equipment should not necessarily emphasise British manufactured equipment but should include equipment produced elsewhere which may be equal or superior.
(g) In short, he strongly advocates the setting up of a full flag of convenience register in Hong Kong.
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