become a "flag of convenience" with its attendant risk
of reprisals against both Hong Kong ships and Red Ensign
ships generally;
ii. it would wholly answer the Hong Kong Government's
fears on crew accommodation and safety equipment matters
that it would be "time-consuming and possibly
impracticable" to refer to DTI new questions requiring
resolution: most of these could be solved on the spot;
iii. it would enable a much speedier solution of
"qualification" problems on manning.
Secondly, on manning, the UK Government would be prepared to
concede that only the Master need be British and hold a
British certificate.
The First Officer could be either
British or a bona fide Hong Kong resident alien who had a
Hong Kong-issued certificate based on examinations taken in
English or Chinese. A working knowledge of English would be
essential.
This would involve an
Chief Engineers, second officers and second engineers of new
and transferred ships could be aliens and would be accepted,
on a once-for-all basis, for employment on Hong Hong-
registered ships on their merits.
individual examination of each officer's qualifications and
record but decisions would be based on general principles
drawn up after consultation with the Director of Marine.
These could envisage the virtually automatic acceptance of
any officer holding certificates issued by specified
traditional maritime countries, with the possibility of oral
examination in the case of certain others, while the holders
of a third category might be required to sit a written
2