Sir,
Speech by Mr P. Jacobs, Secretary for Economic Services, in Legislative Council on 12 June 1985
Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill 1985
I move that the Merchant Shipping (Amendment)
Bill 1985 be read the second time.
2.
The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Merchant
Shipping Ordinance to make it clear that the Governor may
order the rehearing of an investigation by a Marine Court
into a casualty affecting a ship.
3.
Under Section 56(1) of the principal Ordinance,
the Governor's power to order a rehearing relates
specifically to investigations into the conduct of a
holder of a certificate of competency. There is some
doubt as to whether the Governor may order a rehearing of
an investigation into a casualty affecting a ship even
though the original hearing will usually have touched on
matters concerning the conduct of certificate holders.
Clause 2(a) of the draft Bill makes the position
abundantly clear.
/4. Whilst