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Consideration should be given to decentralising examinations so that all written assessment could be done at educational institutions. The Marine Department could then conduct a written and oral examination to decide upon the award of a certificate, and grant exemptions in respect of the written part as appropriate. (POLY(DMME))
Suitable programmes should be arranged for those officers who have not recieved any proper training and certificates so that they could continue in service. (MNOBA)
Rather than requiring them to sit for the normal examinations, a special validation examination modelled after the Liberian example should be introduced for those seamen whose service has exceeded
a certain number of years. This would better help these experienced seamen to continue their livelihood. (LEUNG)
A transitional period is absolutely essential as it would be physically impossible to implement a new certificate structure overnight. This transitional period could last until 1997 thus allowing British and Commonwealth certificates to be acceptable until then.
By 1997, all persons who require to be certificated should have certificates which have been issued in Hong Kong. These certificates should be issued after examination in Hong Kong. However, in the initial stages of the transitional period, it should be possible to issue 'Certificates of Service' to persons who can prove adequate service in a stated capacity for a minimum period of time. (POLY (DNS))
The qualifications of graduates from the Polytechnic should be recognised as professional qualifications. This recognition would reduce the workload of the Marine Department and would in no way usurp its position as the final examination authority. They would still have some form of control over the issue of certificates in a manner to be decided by the administration. (POLY(DMS))
It is unfair that Chinese certificates and
certificates issued by the Liberian Government are not accepted. (YEUNG)