FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1981
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AIM TO CONSOLIDATE MERCHANT SHIPPING LAWS
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HONG KONG'S MERCHANT SHIPPING SAFETY LAWS, AT PRESENT CONTAINED IN VARIOUS PIECES OF LEGISLATION, WILL BE CONSOLIDATED IN ONE ORDINANCE, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE OBJECT OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (SAFETY) BILL 1981, PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, WAS TO REDUCE THE CONFUSION AND DOUBT ARISING FROM THE FRAGMENTED NATURE OF THE EXISTING LAWS.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT WHILE THE BILL CONTAINED CHANGES DESIGNED TO UPDATE EXISTING PROVISIONS AND TO BRING THE WORDING INTO LINE WITH CURRENT PRACTICE, NO NEW PROVISIONS HAD BEEN INTRODUCED.
THE BILL APPLIES TO OCEAN-GOING SHIPS AND DOES NOT DEAL WITH LOCAL AND RIVER CRAFT.
IT SETS OUT IN DETAIL THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE SURVEY OF PASSENGER AND CARGO SHIPS, THE POSSESSION OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON SAFETY AT SEA AND PROCEDURES FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS.
THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR CERTAIN EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS LIFE-SAVING AND FIRE-FIGHT ING APPLIANCES. TO BE CARRIED BY FOREIGN SHIPS WHILE IN HONG KONG AND PROHIBITS THE CARRIAGE OF EXCESS PASSENGERS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE OPPORTUNITY WAS BEING TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE WORDING OF THESE PROVISIONS TO ENSURE THAT SUITABLE LEGAL ACTION COULD BE TAKEN IF EXCESS PASSENGERS WERE TO BE CARRIED ON CARGO VESSELS AS WELL AS ON PASSENGER SHIPS.
REPULSE BAY TRANSPORT PRIORITY SCHEME ****
THE REPULSE BAY ROAD PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY SCHEME WILL AGAIN BE OPERATING ON SUNDAY (JUNE 21), IF THE WEATHER IS FINE.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE SCHEME, WHICH OPERATES BETWEEN 2 PM AND 7 PM ON THE NORTH-BOUND OR CAUSEWAY BAY-BOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF REPULSE BAY ROAD BETWEEN ISLAND ROAD AND WONG NAI CHUNG GAP ROAD ROUNDABOUT, WILL BE IN OPERATION ON ALL SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER IF THE WEATHER IS FAVOURABLE.
UNDER THE SCHEME, ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, EXCEPT BUSES, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND MAXICABS, ARE PROHIBITED FROM USING THE BUS-ONLY LANE.
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