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TRANSPORT
Kong is the responsibility of the Shipping Division of the Marine Department, in respect of maritime control, safety standards and international certification to facilitate their world- wide operation. Hong Kong shipowners also control a significant percentage of the world's deadweight tonnage other than those registered in Hong Kong. Most local shipowners and connected businesses are represented by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association.
Ships registered in Hong Kong adopt, in all key aspects, the same standards of construction, safety, manning and merchant shipping legislation as those registered in the United Kingdom. This status cannot continue beyond 1997. The Sino-British Joint Declaration provides that the future Hong Kong Special Administration Region may continue to maintain a shipping register under its own legislation. It is therefore necessary to modify existing laws applicable to Hong Kong concerning registration to put them into a form in which they can continue to exist under British administration until 1997 and under the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region thereafter.
A consultative document was published in May 1985, outlining preliminary proposals on the modified register and seeking views on them from those concerned with shipping. Taking into account the views received, a plan for the modified register was drawn up and discussed in the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group which, at its fourth meeting in July, agreed on the principles for the establishment of the modified register. A paper setting out these agreed principles was published in October, and detailed proposals on the modified register are now being developed by the government in consultation with other interested parties.
As regards the present register, the Shipping Division of the Marine Department undertakes the survey and certification of Hong Kong registered vessels under various international conventions, and also provides a plan approval and survey service. Statutory surveys of vessels intended for Hong Kong register are undertaken world-wide by surveyors of the division. Locally, surveyors are made available to British or foreign ships for the issue of certificates under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974, and other international maritime conventions.
A number of such international certificates were issued to foreign flag ships at the request of foreign governments. Additionally, one of the world's largest fleets of high technology dynamically supported craft, comprising jetfoils, hydrofoils, side wall hovercraft and jetcats, operates from Hong Kong under the survey and certification of the shipping division. With some exceptions, vessels plying within the waters of Hong Kong need to be licensed under the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance. These, too, are inspected and issued with certificates.
Hong Kong-registered ships maintain a high standard of safety in compliance with the SOLAS convention and its amendments for improved safety measures. This conven- tion is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties relating to maritime safety.
A convention of particular significance which is in force internationally and observed by Hong Kong registered vessels, is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) 1973 as modified by its 1978 Protocol. Hong Kong registered vessels comply with the requirements of the convention and are issued with International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) certificates. As a result, Hong Kong ships are now able to produce authoritative evidence of compliance with MARPOL, thereby making a positive contribution to the environmental protection of the sea. Moreover, as visiting ships are required to comply with MARPOL standards, the risk of pollution to Hong Kong waters has been reduced.