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J
(b)
There is in Hong Kong already a Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) under the auspices of the Vocational Training Council (VTC). If either the MNTB or VTC is unwilling to take on this additional task, then consideration should be given to setting up a Merchant Navy Training Council which would undertake the work. The proposed co-ordinating body would enable sharing and thereby ensure optimisation of existing resources. (MNOG)
Both the Hong Kong administration and shipowners must give maximum support to providing adequate local training facilities linked to Hong Kong's own certificate structure. Whilst the present facilities may be adequate at the present time, they need to be expanded and additionally equipped. (ITF)
To ensure that in future there will be sufficient qualified officers, short courses should be held by relevant departments under the instruction of the government for those serving officers who have not been examined or who are seeking promotion to obtain the certificates of competency.
To gradually meet the demand for officers and junior seamen by the local shipping industry, the training of new recruits and serving crews should be stepped up. (HKSU)
Examination and Certification
A system for the local certification of all personnel, taking into account existing certificates, together with a system for local examination, would be needed. The language of written examination may be either English or Chinese at the discretion of the candidate. All candidates shall however be required to demonstrate an adequate standard of both spoken and written English. (PARRY)
Certificates of competency issued in China should be accepted. (CHAN)
Those who hold a Liberian licence or have no licence at all but who have several years of seafaring experience should be allowed to sit for examinations to acquire the necessary certification to continue in the trade. (CHAN)