Agreement on
30 S.C.M.P.
73
shipping register
The British Government is While in Britain, the hard- very sympathetic to Hongkongls, desire to have its own shipping
shipping register. the Director of Marine, Mr A. Fletcher said yesterday.
Mr Fletcher has just return- ed from holiday in the United Kingdom where he had discussions with the British authorities. This has resulted in the visit of a high-powered team to Hongkong to study the issue.
MR FLETCHER
working Director met with the Minister for Aerospace and Shipping, Mr Michael Heseltine, and other officials in the Department of Trade and Industry.
They were sympathetic and accepted Hongkong shipowner's problems, Mr Fletcher said.
The establishment of a Hongkong register has been agreed in principle and the follow-up is being carried out
now.
But Mr Fletcher was quick to point out that the agreement in principle is subject to a survey
at the scene.
It was just that "both sides think this is a good thing," he explained.
A major problem confronting Hongkong shipowners in the present form of British registry is the shortage of officers. The registry requires that officers must hold British certificates of competency.
Another problem is the certifying of safety equipment and accommodation on ships built overseas, notably in Japan, as these must be actual- ly inspected before being ac- cepted by the registry.
These are some of the problems that the visiting four- member British team is studying in detail. They will make a report to the British authorities later.
The team, led by the De- puty Engineer, Surveyor-in- Chief, Mr
Mr James Cowley, came here on October 17 for a two-month study tour.
They are doing familiarisation work at present, and will later visit Japanese shipyards where many Hongkong owners have placed shipbuilding orders.
During their stay here, the team will also confer with Marine Department officials and shipowners.