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with the requirements of the convention and in the course of the year legislation was enacted to provide for the issue of International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) certifi- cates. As a result, Hong Kong ships are now able to produce authoritative evidence of compliance with MARPOL, thereby avoiding delays or difficulties in foreign ports. Moreover, with visiting ships being required to comply with MARPOL standards, the risk of pollution to Hong Kong waters has been reduced.
Pilotage in Hong Kong is not compulsory, but is considered advisable because of the density of traffic and the scale of harbour works being continually undertaken.
New and amending legislation is under preparation and it is expected that compulsory pilotage will be introduced on a phased basis beginning with phase one in 1985. It is hoped that phase two will be introduced in 1987 followed finally by phase three in 1989, after which all ships of 1000 gross registered tons and above will be required to engage the services of a Hong Kong licensed pilot.
The Director of Marine is the Pilotage Authority in Hong Kong. All licensed pilots are members of the Hong Kong Pilots' Association, which organises the provision of pilotage services on a commercial basis, the fees for which are governed by statute.
All the navigation buoys in Hong Kong waters are in uniformity with the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities Maritime Buoyage System 'A' and all fairway buoys are lit and fitted with radar reflectors. Other aids to navigation in the harbour and its approaches are constantly being improved to ensure greater safety and the programmed conversion to solar power of a number of light beacons is proving very successful.
The Port Communications Centre is linked by teleprinter, telephone and VHF radio to Green Island Signal Station and by telephone and VHF radio to Waglan Island Signal Station. The Marine Department operates a continuous VHF radio-telephone port opera- tions service, based on international maritime frequencies, which gives comprehensive marine communications throughout the harbour and its approaches. Marine Department teleprinter and telex facilities are linked directly to users on a world-wide basis.
There is also a continuously monitored disaster network which links the Marine Department's Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre with aircraft of the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force and military helicopters, Marine Police and Fire Services Department launches and other similar facilities. In the event of a vessel experiencing difficulties in the South China Sea within about 1 300 kilometres of Hong Kong, the Marine Department can activate the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in liaison with other Rescue Co-ordination Centres in the region.
A joint study with the Canadian Government for a vessel traffic management system for the waters of Hong Kong was completed in August. Following detailed consideration of the report on the study, the government decided in principle, in December, to proceed to the implementation stage of the project.
Marine Department patrol launches keep a watch on shipping, fairways, typhoon shelters and cargo working areas. The launches are in continuous radio contact with the Port Communications Centre, enabling the centre to initiate and co-ordinate any action required in unusual circumstances. A fleet of fire-fighting vessels operated by the Fire Services Department is kept in a state of readiness with units stationed on both sides. of the harbour.
Good bunkering facilities are provided in the port, and vessels may be supplied with fuel oil either from wharves at oil terminals or from a fleet of floating oilers. Fresh water is obtainable at commercial wharves or from private water boats which service vessels at anchor or on government mooring buoys.