Govt considers clean-up
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HONG KONG STANDARD
3 73
campaign for maritime image
HKR 21
IMPROVED DEAL FOR
12
HK SEAMEN
DRASTIC measures are being considered by the Government to improve the lot of Hongkong's 75,000 seamen, renowned for a high rate of ship-jumping and lack of discipline.
The move came as the Colony heads towards ૉ new era
of commercial maritime power with the imminent establishment of its own shipping registry.
The sweeping changes under consideration are the result of extensive research into seamen's working conditions and resultant adverse effects Hongkong's image. The investigation was spearheaded by a working group operating from the Seamen's Recruiting Office.
on
-by
Kate McRae
Government-supplied land.
A member of the working group said the study was made because of Hongkong's growing association with strikes at sea and ship-jumping. people are saying Hongkong is no good. Seamen
"Desertion spreads like a disease. As a result,
hear jumping ship in the United States is good
so they jump.
"This is all part of an attempt to escape from Hongkong conditions by jumping ship they hope to be better off financially," he said.
Over the past seven years, a total of 7,540 Hongkong seamen have deserted their ship, one of the highest figures in the world. Of these one out of seven preferred the United States.
For the same period, 3,196 disciplinary measures were reported, resulting in the removal of 42 seamen from the register after their conviction.
A further
were 2,636
suspended for desertion and 329 for misconduct. These crimes include desertion, fighting and assault incompetence,
the use of drugs and
insubordination.
The Government, aware of the problems for years, recently blamed the lack of communication between searmen and their memoAshad-2 spectekananda é amployers for the increasing number of strikes ́-
Submitted to the Colonial Secretariat for study, the report concluded that - Honghong
which could not be met from existing welfare facilities.
The study claimed that unemployment, retirement and medical benefits were virtually non-existent. So was vocational training. It recommended that dormitory or hostel be built on
accommodation
at sea,
In a newsletter to seamen, the Government said that the strikers, by taking the law into their own hands, were jeopardising the welfare of all Hongkong seamen. “In this respect, the posts formerly held by Hongkong seamen were thus lost forever,” it said.
The seamen, on their side, have countered the criticism by claiming they are poorly paid, receive few benefits, and suffer insecurity regarding their families while they are at sea.
In a meeting a year ago, the Amalgamated Union of Seafarers brought out a dozen general grievances.
It said the primary complaint was pay, despite partial revision of wages. Hongkong seamen were still being paid far below the international standard.
Generally they are receiving slightly more than half of the standard set up by the International Transportworkers Federation (ITF).
COMPLAINTS
Other complaints centred on the lack of uniformity in overtime pay and bonus,
"Hongkong seamen who are approaching old age are kept in a state of anxiety over their livelihood after they retire because there is no long service gratuity, Such extended continuity of anxiety will affect their devotion to duty," it said.
Another body, Hongkong Seamen's Union, said in another meeting that the most urgent need was maintenance of order and peace.
A representative told the working group that there were cases where seamen's children were kidnapped and houses burgled when the seamen were away.
"The greatest worry of seamen serving at sea is the safety of their families," he said.