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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1984
+AT THE MOMENT HONG KONG OPERATES AS A BRITISH PORT OF REGISTRY. THIS CANNOT CONTINUE BEYOND 1997. WE THEREFORE HAVE TO ADDRESS SOME QUITE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES, INCLUDING THE QUESTION OF THE FUTURE OF OUR SHIPPING REGISTER, HE SAID.
IN RECENT YEARS THE FOCUS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING REGISTER DEBATE HAS BEEN ON WHETHER TO DO AWAY WITH FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE.
+ IF FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE ARE EVENTUALLY PHASED OUT, THEN THIS COULD HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE PATTERN OF SHIPPING IN HONG KONG BECAUSE AT THE PRESENT TIME A LARGE NUMBER OF HONG KONG BENEFICIALLY OWNED SHIPS FLY FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE, + HE SAID.
MR JACOBS DISCLOSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD INITIAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE HONG KONG SHIPOWNER'S ASSOCIATION AND CERTAIN OBJECTIVES HAD BEEN SUGGESTED TO THE GOVERNMENT. THEY INCLUDE:-
* THE NEED FOR HONG KONG TO HAVE ITS OWN MODERN MERCHANT
SHIPPING LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND CONVENTIONS TO BE HONOURED;
*
*
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AUTONOMOUS HONG KONG REGISTRY ATTRACTIVE TO SHIPOWNERS AND OTHERS, WHICH COULD BE FINANCIALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT ;
THE DEVELOPMENT AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NECESSARY SUPPORTING CERTIFICATION, SURVEY AND TECHNICAL SERVICES;
* THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL TRAINING FACILITIES TO
ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF SKILLED PERSONNEL TO MAN HONG KONG REGISTERED SHIPS;
*
*
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DISTINCT SHIPPING POLICY FOR HONG KONG, AND HONG KONG REPRESENTATION (AS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER) IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION AND OTHER MAJOR SHIPPING POLICY MAKING BODIES; AND
THE DEVELOPMENT OF PORT SERVICES TO MATCH THE NEEDS OF AN EXPANDING PORT AND HK'S INCREASINGLY VARIED AND DEVELOPING FLEET.
ON A PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A SHIPPING BUREAU WHICH WOULD PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE COMMERCIAL SIDE OF SHIPPING AND DEAL WITH TRADE DIFFICULTIES AND OTHER MATTERS OF THE SORT HANDLED IN THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT, MR JACOBS SAID HE WAS ATTRACTED BY THIS IDEA.
/+THE CONCEPT