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FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1990
"IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROVISION AND TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION OF THE NEW HONG KONG REGISTER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IT IS ESTABLISHED WELL BEFORE 1997," HE ADDED.
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OF PLANNING FOR THE REGISTER, THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONSIDERED IT ESSENTIAL THAT ITS PROVISIONS SHOULD REFLECT THE NEEDS OF THOSE SEEKING TO REGISTER THEIR SHIPS ON IT AND OF THE ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE WELFARE, CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND TRAINING OF SHIPS' CREWS, MR HUI SAID.
IN 1987, THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED A STEERING GROUP COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG SHIPOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND OTHER KEY SECTORS OF THE MARITIME COMMUNITY INCLUDING BANKERS, LAWYERS, INSURERS, SEAFARERS UNIONS AND THE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS ΤΟ ADVISE ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF THE REGISTER, HE NOTED.
MR HUI POINTED OUT THAT IN APPROACHING ITS TASK THE STEERING GROUP WAS ASKED TO KEEP IN MIND THE FOLLOWING GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
(A) THAT PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE FOR A GENUINE LINK BETWEEN
THE SHIPS ON THE REGISTER AND HONG KONG;
(B) THAT HIGH STANDARDS OF MARINE SAFETY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED;
(C) THAT EQUIPMENT USED ON BOARD SHIPS SHOULD BE PROVIDED то
THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED STANDARDS;
(D) THAT THE REGISTER SHOULD BE SELF FINANCING; AND
(E) THAT IT SHOULD BE RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT WITH HONG KONG
MAINTAINING A STRONG MARITIME ADMINISTRATION.
BASED ON THESE PRINCIPLES THE STEERING GROUP HAD PRODUCED DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE REGISTER, MR HUI SAID.
VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE GROUP'S RECOMMENDATIONS HAD AS THE BASIS FOR THE DRAFTING OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING BILL 1990 TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SAID.
(REGISTRATION)
JULY,
BEEN ADOPTED
IN
HE
MR HUI SAID THAT THE NEW REGISTER WOULD BE ATTRACTIVE TO SHIPOWNERS BOTH IN HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGISTER OF GOOD REPUTE WHICH WOULD SPECIFY AND ENFORCE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED STANDARDS OF VESSEL CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT, MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY.
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"IN NO SENSE WOULD THE FUTURE HONG KONG REGISTER BE A 'FLAG OF CONVENIENCE', MR HUI SAID, ADDING THAT LEGISLATION HAD BEEN DRAFTED TO REFLECT THE HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN ALL RESPECTS.
/"FOR EXAMPLE