DRAFT LETTER FROM MR STUART TO MR JONES
Thank you for your letter of 11 June about the Hong Kong Shipping Register, copies of which I passed to the Department of Trade who were able to draw on the comments during their
discussion with the Governor last month.
in Londen
During the Governor's talks with the Department, it was generally recognised that the task of reaching a compromise which would satisfy the requirements of the Hong Kong
shipowners on the one hand and meeting minimum safety standards
iips the on the other, was probably not susceptible to a quick solution. Whilst we certainly understand your problem, and indeed sympathise with the argument in your paragraph 8, we have to take into account a number of other factors. Regarding the
proposal for a written examination, it was quite clear to the visiting team that no reliance could be placed on the certificates held by many officers manning the ships of Hong Kong owners, since even if they had a bona fide Liberian
certificate issued on evidence of a Taiwan certificate, there was no guarantee that the latter was not false. (The Study Team's Report Annex 2; Sections 1.5 and 1.1.12 refer).
Hence
in the team's view it was essential to conduct a written
examination, since an oral examination alone could not fully test basic knowledge. As you know, the team recommended a modified written examination which, in their view, would meet the needs of the situation during the interim period.
However, connidue
we do feel that the inability to rely on certain foreign certificates is very material to the proposals.
You asked in your paragraph 6 for additional details regarding
the written examinations, and I therefore attach detailed notes
on the modified second mates and first mates examinations and
on the engineer examinations. These special examinations are, of course, only regarded by the Department of Trade as a stop gap measure until satisfactory long term training arrangements have been set up in Hong Kong. We note that you are already taking steps to improve the present situation by the introduction of a two year diploma course for deck cadets commencing in September.
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