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Participation in International Shipping Organisations
International Maritime Organisation
Hong Kong participates in the activities of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as an Associate Member in the name of 'Hong Kong, China'. Hong Kong takes an active part in major IMO activities and in this connection, Hong Kong's maritime industry is consulted and briefed on all issues of importance to the SAR. During the year, Hong Kong attended one diplomatic conference and 14 IMO meetings in London. Its main contributions in the IMO in 2000 concerned standards. of training and certification for seafarers, bulk carrier safety, radio communications, revision of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, safety of navigation, prevention of pollution and matters relating to liability and compensation for bunker oil pollution damage.
Maritime Search and Rescue
The search and rescue responsibility for maritime distress situations occurring within Hong Kong waters and the major part of the South China Sea covering a sea area of about 450 000 square kilometres, as agreed internationally, rests with the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) of the Marine Department.
The MRCC is manned 24 hours a day by professional staff and is equipped with comprehensive communication equipment and a shore-based Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. It co-ordinates search and rescue operations in conjunction with other government departments and international ships on the high seas. Staff members of the MRCC regularly hold maritime safety seminars for fishermen's associations and yacht clubs and for the shipping community in neighbouring Guangdong Province.
In 2000, the centre handled 278 cases of vessel emergencies, of which 60 developed into search and rescue operations including 22 medical evacuations. A total of 207 persons were rescued. The centre presented safety seminars for the public.
In recognition of its expertise, the Hong Kong MRCC has been selected as a member of the International Maritime Organisation/International Civil Aviation Organisation Joint Working Group for Search and Rescue.
Port State Control
The Marine Department continued to take an active role in the Asia-Pacific regional Memorandum of Understanding (Tokyo MOU) on Port State Control (PSC) activities during the year. Hong Kong led the Working Group on the Amendments to the MOU and Manual, the Advisory Group for Information Exchange and the Advisory Group for Technical Co-operation Programmes.
On request of the Tokyo MOU Secretariat, Hong Kong sent an 'Expert Mission' to Shenzhen in July to brief some 37 PSC officers from different parts of the Mainland. Hong Kong experts also gave lectures in the 10th Basic Training Course for Port State Control Officers in the Asia-Pacific Region at Yokohama, Japan in October and in a regional training course organised by the International Maritime Organisation/International Transport Workers' Federation in November.