2
were resident in Hong Kong,
5.
Reports on the interviews on the dock and ongineer officare arO
attached at
6.
The worth of foreign certificates held by the candidates inter- viewed so far is considered to be almost negligible. No credence can be placed upon them.
Forgery and malpractice is prevalent. All the candidates so far interviewed hold either Taiwanese, Liberian or Panamanian certificates. There is a maritime college in Taiwan named the Taiwan Provincial Haritimo College and it is believed (on the basis of these interviews) that the standard of graduates in engineering approximate to those from the United Kingdom Alternative Training Schono. However, this provisional judgment does not mean that holders of Taiwanese certificates must attend this College. There are other legitimate (and other illegal) avenues to Taiwanesc certificates,
76
There have been some language difficulties in the interviewing end assessment of candidates, but it is not believed that these were of major significance in assessing the competence of the interviewees. It is not believed that the use of an interpreter would be helpful. This has been attempted in the case of a deck interviewee but the interproter was not familiar with the technical terms involved and the interview was prolonged.
8.
Many of the candidates were difficult to examine orally because of the lack of basic education and knowledge. This was a real factor despite the fact that some of them had had twenty years experience at sea and to subject them to a written examination would be confirming the obvious. the engineering side no casc has been found in which a written examination, whether in Chinese or otherwise, would have been helpful in confirming to the exarinor a poor showing in the interview. Many of the candidates would not be capable of passing the D.T.I. standard in basio principles regardless of the languago. A preliminary written examination dependant on the age and experience of the applicant would be helpful in reducing the number of
unsuitable candidates.
On
9.
There should be no problem regarding the examinations for certi- fication of radio officers in Hong Kong to D.T.I. standards as there are
ample facilities. However, the P.M.G. representative in Hong Kong says that he does not intend to allow non-Commonwealth nationals to sit the
examination and a note on this aspect is attached zi
♦
It is not
anticipated that it would be necessary to send a P.M.G. radio expert to
Hong Kong as the staff here appear to be suitably qualified.
/10.