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EXAMINATIONS. CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH EXAMINATIONS WOULD HAVE AN ASIAN NATIVE LANGUAGE, PE ABOVE A GIVEN AGE AND HAVE A GIVEN LENGTH OF SEA SERVICE. WE RELIEVE THAT MOST CANDIDATES WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A PELATIVELY SHORT FULL-TIME COURSE IN ORDER TO STAND A FAIR CHANCE OF SUCCESS IN THE EXAMINATION BUT THIS NEED NOT BE A PRE- CONDITION, THESE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE TRANSITIONAL FOR SOME YEARS UNTIL LONGER-TERM ENTRY AND TRAINING ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE
ESTABLISHED. IN ORDER TO SECURE COMPARABLITY OF STANDARDS WE ENVISAGE THAT THE EXAMINERS IN CHARGE FOR BOTH DECK AND ENGINEER OFFICERS WOULD BE SECONDED FROM THE UK.
4. IF THIS APPROACH TO CERTIFICATION IS ACCEPTABLE, WE THEN NEED TO AGREE ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPROVING PLANS OF NEW CONSTRUCTION IN JAPANESE YARDS AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON SHIPS BUILT THERE, THE TEAM HAD A NUMBER OF RESERVATIONS ABOUT STANDARDS ADOPTED AND OVER- RELIANS ON NKK BUT THERE ARE EXCELLENT TESTING FACILITIES IN JAPAN AND THE JAPANESE WOULD BE PREPARED TO TEST TO OUR REQUIREMENTS. THE EXTRA COSTS TO HONG KONG SHIPOWNERS WOULD BE SMALL PROVIDED REQUIREMENTS WERE STIPULATED BEFORE A CONTRACT WAS SIGNED.
5. WE BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT STANDARDS FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, INSTALLATIONS AND SURVEY OUGHT TO BE THE SAME FOR THE HONG KONG REGISTER AS FOR THE UK ONE AND THE TEAM'S INVESTIGATION
IN JAPAN HAS HELPED US TO ASSESS THE POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS OF APPROVA OF JAPANESE EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS SO FAR AS OUR SHIPPING IS CONCERNED. IN COMMON WITH OTHER MARITIME COUNTRIES, INCLUDING JAPAN WE PREFER TO HAVE OUR OWN EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL ON OUR SHIPS OVER WHICH WE CAN EXERCISE CLOSER CONTROL. ACCELERATION OF APPROVAL OF JAPANESE ITEMS FOR THE UK AND HONG KONG REGISTERS WOULD CONVEY BENEFITS ON JAPANESE MANUFACTURERS AT THE EXPENSE OF OURS. BEFORE TAKING POSITIVE AND TIME-CONSUMING STEPS TOWARDS THIS ACCELERATION, WE WOULD NEED TO BE SATISFIED THAT WE COULD NEGOTIATE FAIR
ARRANGEMENTS WITH JAPAN,
6. I SHOULD BE GLAD TO HAVE YOUR VIEWS ON THESE VARIATIONS IN OUR
EARLIER PROPOSALS. WE ARE CONSCIOUS THAT WE MAY BE CRITICISED FOR
ESTABLISHING A FLAG OF CONVENIENCE UNDER THE RED ENSIGN TO THE
DETRIMENT OF UK INTERESTS AND DELIEVE THAT ONLY IN THE WAYS
DESCRIBED CAN WE SUCCESSFULLY CONTEST THIS CRITICISM.
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