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WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1985
HE SUGGESTED THE PILOTAGE DUES, WHICH WOULD FORM PART OF THE REGULAR EXPENDITURE OF THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY, MUST BE SET AT A LEVEL THAT WOULD NOT HAMPER THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE INDUSTRY.
+SINCE THE PILOTAGE DUES WOULD HAVE MUCH WIDER IMPLICATIONS THAN BEFORE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXAMINE THE SITUATION CAREFULLY WITH THE WIDEST POSSIBLE CONSULTATION IN THE NEXT REVIEW OF THE PILOTAGE (DUES) ORDER, + HE SAID.
MR CHEN NOTED THAT, AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR AND BUSIEST PORTS HONG KONG HAD EARNED A WORLD-WIDE REPUTATION FOR
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EFFICIENCY IN MEETING THE INCREASING DEMANDS OF MODERN SHIPPING REQUIREMENTS.
SUMMING UP HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO BE FLEXIBLE IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROPOSAL AND TO AVOID GETTING INTO A SITUATION WHERE, FOLLOWING PASSAGE OF THE BILL, THE VOLUME OF PILOTAGE MOVEMENT WAS EXPANDING AT SUCH A RATE THAT THE SUPPLY OF QUALIFIED PILOTS COULD NOT MATCH IT.
+IN THIS REGARD I WOULD LIKE TO SEEK THE GOVERNMENT'S ASSURANCE THAT TRAINING FACILITIES WILL BE ADEQUATE TO ENSURE A SUPPLY OF PROPERLY TRAINED PILOTS TO MEET THE DEMANDS GENERATED BY IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPULSORY PILOTAGE, HE SAID.
ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, THE HON MARIA TAM RECALLED AN ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED TO AN OCEAN-GOING VESSEL, THE SUNSHINE ISLAND+, ON DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG IN 1981. THERE WAS NO PILOT ON BOARD.
MISS TAM SAID SHE WELCOMED THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL WHICH, AS THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES HAD PROMISED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 25, 1981, WOULD PHASE IN COMPULSORY PILOTAGE IN HONG KONG WATERS.
+THE GROSS REGISTERED TONNAGE SPECIFIED UNDER THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE BILL COVERS ONLY THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS EXERCISE.
+HOW SOON WE CAN MOVE TO PHASES TWO AND THREE MUST DEPEND ON THE AVAILABILITY OF LICENSED PILOTS, BUT I AM PLEASED TO NOTE THAT HE NEXT PHASE WILL NOT TAKE ANOTHER FOUR YEARS, + SHE SAID
/ON THE