4.32 The importance of maintaining Hong Kong as a free port was discussed in an editorial of the South China Morning Post on 4 October. It pointed out that Hong Kong's value as the point of entry for a large part of China's foreign trade was inestimable, not only because of its deep water and sheltered harbour, but its container facilities which were steadily expanding.
4.33 It was considered that the Hong Kong Government should now start devising a new set of shipping regulations, to make improvements where appropriate, for example, on the training of seamen, the registration of ships, the definition of expatriate seamen after 1997, and to deal with the question of ships from Taiwan, South Africa and Israel entering Hong Kong after 1997.
4.34 The provision contained in the draft agreement for Hong Kong to have its own shipping register was warmly welcomed by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association.
4.35 The Navy Officers' Guild has voiced fears about the employment prospects of seamen after 1997, and has requested that the present system of employment on Hong Kong registered ships requiring British type certificates should be maintained. Concern has also been expressed about trade union rights and civil liberties of Hong Kong's workers.
Section IX Civil Aviation
4.36 The Civil Aviation Section in the draft agreement has attracted few comments from the general public: its provision was welcomed by Cathay Pacific Airways. The Far Eastern Economic Review took the view that "there will be a future for the Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways in its present form up to and beyond 1997 and that it would provide a large degree of autonomy for the Hong Kong SAR from 1997 in aviation matters -far more than at present-aiming at maintaining the status of Hong Kong as a centre of regional and international aviation".
4.37 As regards services between Hong Kong and Taiwan, it was noted that Cathay Pacific Airways could continue to operate between the two places as the present air services rested on an agreement between Cathay and China Airlines. There was no air services agreement between United Kingdom and Taiwan government on this route. Some concern was expressed about air services between the SAR and those countries with no diplomatic relations with the PRC.
Section X
Culture and Education
4.38 The future of Hong Kong's education policies and system within the terms of the draft agreement were widely and constructively discussed. Although some changes to the existing education system were considered necessary, no organization or individual had expressed disagreement with the draft agreement as a whole. The Chairman of the Board of Education(12) said that it "provides a sound basis for Hong Kong to continue to evolve and develop an educational system which will ensure that our population
(12) A statutory advisory body established under Section 7 of the Education Ordinance.
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