11 -
3.8.
The comments we received (See Annex B), whilst
generally welcoming the fairly stringent criteria, made
the following points: -
(i) too stringent an approach to the 'genuine
link' requirement could lead to loss of
vessels from the register and consequent
loss of business to shipping related
organisations (e.g. banks, solicitors
etc.) and of revenue to Government;
(ii) requirements which would otherwise
disqualify ships owned by companies
incorporated in the UK but with
traditional links to Hong Kong should be
avoided;
(iii) special provision should be made for
demise charters.
Companies not incorporated in Hong Kong
3.9.
We are firmly of the view that, for a ship to
be included on the proposed Hong Kong Register its owner should have a strong connection with Hong Kong and that