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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1992
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS: GOVERNOR
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THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID THAT THE MORE PEOPLE WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND IN DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE, THE MORE EVERYBODY WOULD RECOGNISE IT.
HE WAS RESPONDING TO A PRESS QUESTION AFTER APPEARING ON A TELEVISION PROGRAMME ABOUT WHAT HE LEARNT FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S SERIES OF PUBLIC SPEAKING SESSIONS.
"WHAT I'VE LEARNT, PARTICULARLY AT THE PUBLIC MEETING I HAD THIS EVENING IS WHAT A RESPONSIBLE, INTELLIGENT COMMUNITY THERE IS IN HONG KONG, MR PATTEN SAID.
MERCHANT SHIPPING (SAFETY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992 GAZETTED
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THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (SAFETY) { AMENDMENT} BILL 1992 WHICH ENABLES SURVEYS TO BE CONDUCTED ON FOREIGN REGISTERED PASSENGER SHIPS ENGAGED IN NON-INTERNATIONAL VOYAGES WHICH BEGIN AND END WITHIN THE WATERS OF HONG KONG WITHOUT CALLING AT ANOTHER PORT WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE BILL ALSO ENABLES THE INSPECTION OF CERTIFICATES OR OTHER DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF CARGO SHIPS NOT COVERED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA 1974
(SOLAS).
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MARINE
TSE YAN-CHI,SAID:
(SHIPPING), MR
JOHN
"FOREIGN REGISTERED PASSENGER SHIPS BASED IN HONG KONG AND PLYING ON NON-INTERNATIONAL VOYAGES ARE OFTEN REMOTE FROM THE CONTROL OF THEIR FLAG STATE ADMINISTRATIONS.
"THE LATTER MAY THEREFORE FIND IT DIFFICULT IN SOME CASES TO ENSURE THAT THE SAFETY STANDARDS OF THESE SHIPS ARE MAINTAINED FULLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SOLAS CONVENTION.'
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"SINCE SUCH SHIPS ROUTINELY CARRY LARGE NUMBERS PASSENGERS, THEIR SAFETY IS A MATTER OF CONCERN TO US.
OF HONG KONG
"THE BILL ADDRESSES THIS CONCERN BY PROVIDING POWERS FOR THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE TO CONDUCT SURVEYS OF SUCH FOREIGN REGISTERED PASSENGER SHIPS JUST AS IF THEY WERE HONG KONG REGISTERED SHIPS, HE ADDED.
"I
NOTING THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE'S POWERS IN THIS REGARD HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS, MK TSE STRESSED THAT THE MARINE DEPARTMENT'S MAIN CONCERN WAS THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS WHO GO ON SUCH SHIPS.
/MR TSE