TRANSPORT
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obligations under International Maritime Organisation and International Labour Organisa- tion conventions, including those on safety of life at sea, training and certification of crew, and protection of the marine environment. Statutory surveys of Hong Kong-registered vessels are undertaken worldwide by the department's surveyors or authorised classification societies, to ensure that these standards are met.
The register had a total fleet of 592 vessels, amounting to eight million GRT, at the end of 1994.
Seafarers
The Marine Department's Seamen's Recruiting Office and the Mercantile Marine Office supervise the employment of about 2 600 Hong Kong seafarers.
The falling recruitment of local seafarers is a major concern. Hong Kong shipowners and the Merchant Navy Training Board are trying to increase the recruitment of trainee officers. As part of this effort, the Hong Kong Shipowners Association is sponsoring 75 cadets and trainees.
In addition, the Merchant Navy Training Board and the training institutions are improving training for Hong Kong seafarers. The Vocational Training Council operates a modern and well-equipped Seamen's Training Centre. The centre provides training courses for new entrants as well as in-service training. The Marine Department monitors training leading to maritime qualifications and examines candidates for certificates of competency.
Civil Aviation
The year saw continued growth in passenger and cargo throughput at Hong Kong International Airport, at Kai Tak.
A total of 25.2 million passengers passed through the terminal, an increase of 3.1 over the 24.5 million in the previous year.
per cent
Some 1.29 million tonnes of cargo, valued at $447.6 billion, were handled, an increase of 14.7 per cent compared to 1.14 million tonnes, valued at $390.1 billion, in 1993. Air transport continued to play an important role in Hong Kong's external trade. Approximately 19.8 per cent, 31.6 per cent and 13.7 per cent, in value terms, of Hong Kong's total trade in imports, exports and re-exports, respectively, were carried by air. The United States remained the major market for exports and re-exports by air, accounting for 11.5 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively.
An increase of six per cent in aircraft movements was recorded in 1994, bringing the annual total to 143 259, of which 78 per cent involved wide-bodied aircraft.
On September 23, a Hercules transport plane plunged into the sea at Kowloon Bay shortly after its takeoff from the airport. Six crew members were killed and six were injured. An official investigation has been launched into the cause of the incident.
Improvement to the Airport
A series of improvements to the airport passenger terminal building, which included the widening of the departure pier in the departure lounge, the construction of an additional bus dock to serve passengers transferring to aircraft positioned on outer parking bays, the provision of 12 additional check-in counters and the installation of escalators for disembarking passengers, was completed in December 1994. Further improvements are
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