t
Hong Kong registry agreement' sure
to spark controversy
BY A STAFF REPORTER ·
REPORTS from Hong Kong indicate Mr Slater did not see how such a that officers' unions and shipowners' problem would be solved by the He representatives have been called to a meeting at the Department of Trade and Industry on Sept. 10 to be told that a Hong Kong flag of registry is to be established.
Shipping sources in Hong Kong said that a
"breakthrough Ia. been achieved in the 20-month-long negotiations be- tween the Hong Kong and British Gov- ernments on the registry issue with a British compromise that would allow colony-registered ships to sail with a British master in command of non-
British officers rather than a totally British officer staff as previously re- quired.
The settlement will now make it
feasible for colony owners who control
more than 20 million tons d.w. of shipping plying the world's oceans, but registered mostly in Liberia and Pan- ama, to hoist the Hong Kong flag." the sources added.
The DT1 in London refused to con- firm or deny the reports yesterday but a spokesman for the Hong Kong Marine Department was quoted as say- ing that its director, Mr A. Fletcher, is coming to Britain shortly to discuss plans for setting up the registry including drawing up regulations and recruiting staff.
creation of a Hong Kong flag, pointed out that the shortage of cer- tificated officers was not peculiar to the UK but was prevalent throughout western Europe, if not the world. "If they think they're going to get a sudden inflow of officers from western Europe, they're living in cloud cuckoo
land."
The only way he could see Hong Kong-registered ships attracting officers from British and European flag vessels was by offering better wages and con- ditions. How could they do this without lowering the standards for safely and crew conditions, Mr Slater.
asked.
He pointed out some supporters of the Hong Kong-registry idea, had most of their tonnage registered in Liberia and Panama.
"
The owners, said Mr Slater, were unlikely to switch to the Hong Kong flag unless there was some induce- ment, and presumably such an induce. ment would involve the lowering of standards."
On the DTT's wish that standards would not be affected, the officers' leader said: Maybe they intend this
to be so, but I and others do not believe it will be."
Although a spokesman for the DTI
He added: " If the British Govern. said that in the case of an agreement ment, who are responsible for Hong!
there will certainly be no dropping Kong are going to be party
in any in standards regarding crew arrange-
shape or form to something which nients and conditions." the registry is going to lower standards, this is decision is sure to spark off a major
iniquitous." controversy.
The initial reaction of Mr John Slater, general secretary of the Mer- chant Navy and Airline Officers' Asso- | ciation to the reports was annoyance, rather than surprise. surprise me as we had the impression that we were being presented with a fait accompli when we met the DTI."
doesn't
Mr Slater's annoyance was not only with the idea of the registry which he described earlier this year as “odious but the indication that the Sept. 10 meeting has bean, called merely to announce the decision. "I don't ke being invited to a meeting if it's a whitewash," he declared.
The idea of a Hong Kong registry had been in the wr for some time before the British Covernment nazo- tiating team Bow not to the colony earlier this year.
One of the most cathusiastic spon- sets of the plen ha buon Mi Y. K. Pas, head of the Hong Kong-based Woda-Wide Shopping Group. pris pel argument for the registry was the shortage of British certiävated officers or Exitich natio ads to fill senfor i
LLOYD'S RIST
30. 8 73.