WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1986
WIDER RULE-MAKING POWERS FOR MARINE CHIEF
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AMENDMENTS TO THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE ARE TO GIVE THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE WIDER RULE-MAKING POWERS IN RESPECT OF CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY FOR CREW.ON LICENSED VESSELS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, MR JACOBS SAID ALL LICENSED VESSELS UNDER WAY IN THE WATERS OF HONG KONG WERE REQUIRED TO CARRY A CERTIFICATED MASTER AND ENGINEER ON BOARD.
THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE REQUIRED THE DIRECTOR TO CONDUCT APPROPRIATE EXAMINATIONS AND ENABLED HIM TO MAKE RULES GOVERNING STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES WITH REGARD TO THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY.
+ WHILE THE SYSTEM WORKS WELL ENOUGH FOR MOST CATEGORIES OF VESSEL, IT GIVES RISE TO PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE CERTIFICATION OF CREW FOR PLEASURE VESSELS.
+THERE IS NO PROVISION ALLOWING THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE TO ISSUE DIFFERENT GRADES OF CERTIFICATE FOR PLEASURE VESSELS. NEITHER IS HE EMPOWERED TO RECOGNISE CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY OTHER MARITIME AUTHORITIES,+ MR JACOBS SAID.
A NUMBER OF OTHER MINOR AMENDMENTS WHICH WERE OF A PROCEDURAL NATURE WERE ALSO INCLUDED, HE SAID,
THESE WOULD ENABLE THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE TO MAKE RULES FOR THE ISSUE OF DIFFERENT GRADES OF CERTIFICATE, FOR THE NECESSARY EXAMINATIONS, FOR RECOGNITION OF EQUIVALENT CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY AND GENERALLY FOR BETTER ADMINISTRATION OF THE RELEVANT PART OF THE ORDINANCE.
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, AN AGE LIMIT FOR THE CONTINUED VALIDITY OF A CERTIFICATE WOULD BE SET AND PROVISION MADE FOR ITS SUBSEQUENT EXTENSION.
+ IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE AGE LIMIT BE 65 YEARS. FURTHER EXTENSION BEYOND THAT AGE WILL BE GRANTED SUBJECT TO THE HOLDER SATISFYING THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE OF HIS CONTINUED COMPETENCY, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND GOOD EYE SIGHT.
+ THE EFFECT OF THIS PROVISION IS THAT IF THE CERTIFICATE HOLDER DOES NOT APPLY, OR FAILS IN HIS APPLICATION FOR AN EXTENSION BY THE TIME HE REACHES 65, HIS CERTIFICATE WILL BECOME INVALID, HE SAID.
MR JACOBS NOTED THAT THE TERMS OF THIS LEGISLATION, TOGETHER WITH THE REGULATIONS AND RULES PROPOSED, HAD BEEN AGREED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PLEASURE BOATING COMMUNITY.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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