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TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1992
"THE MARINE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT THE LOCAL SHIPPING INDUSTRY IS ABLE TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN THE MANAGEMENT, SAFETY AND OPERATION OF THEIR FLEET.
"THIS WILL RAISE THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC ATTENTION ΤΟ SAFETY AND REDUCE GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT TO AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL WITHOUT LOSS OF SAFETY AND GOOD ORDER. LEGISLATION GOVERNING LOCAL VESSELS SHOULD ENABLE THEM TO PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT AND SAFE SERVICE.
"THESE AIMS SHOULD BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A NEW BILL AND AMENDMENTS ΤΟ EXISTING LEGISLATION WHERE APPROPRIATE IN STAGES STARTING NEXT' YEAR WITH COMPLETION EXPECTED BY 1996.
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LOCAL VESSELS ARE LICENSED IN HONG KONG. OPERATE EXCLUSIVELY WITHIN THE HONG KONG WATERS TO AND FROM THE TERRITORY.
THEY ARE THOSE WHICH OR REGULARLY PLYING
MR TUPPER EXPLAINED THAT THE "LOCAL CRAFT REVIEW" WAS PUBLISHED IN APRIL 1989 SETTING OUT PROBLEM AREAS AND POSSIBLE REFORM MEASURES.
"IN THE LIGHT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED, THE MEASURES IN THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT WERE MODIFIED AND FURTHER DEVELOPED IN DETAIL AND ARE SET OUT IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL," MR TUPPER SAID.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE:
* PUBLICATION OF A SAFETY CODE AND PER IODIC SURVEYS AND
INSPECTIONS;
* REGISTRATION OF OWNERSHIP FOR LOCAL VESSELS AND PERMIT TO
OPERATE;
SIMPLIFICATION OF VESSEL CLASSIFICATION;
* INTRODUCTION OF AUTHORISED PERSONS ΤΟ CONDUCT SURVEYS OF
VESSELS:
* STANDARDISATION AND SIMPLIFICATION OF EXISTING REGULATIONS
AS EARLY REFORMS PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW LEGISLATION.
MR TUPPER SAID: "A SAFETY CODE STIPULATING SAFETY STANDARDS VESSEL OWNERS AND OPERATORS ΤΟ FOLLOW IN SURVEYING AND MAINTAINING THEIR VESSELS WILL BE PUBLISHED.
FOR
"WITH THE PUBLICATION OF THIS CODE, SUITABLY QUALIFIED PERSONS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, APART FROM MARINE DEPARTMENT SURVEYORS, MAY BE AUTHORISED TO CONDUCT SURVEYS OF SHIPS.
'AS A FIRST STEP CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES WILL BE AUTHORISED то CONDUCT SURVEYS OF LOCAL VESSELS ON BEHALF OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS THEY ARE AUTHORISED ΤΟ DO SO ON HONG KONG REGISTERED SHIPS.'
/MR TUPPER