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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1993
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF MERCHANT SHIPPING (LIMITATION OF SHIPOWNERS LIABILITY) BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID IT WAS NECESSARY TO ENACT LOCAL LEGISLATION TO REPLACE THESE ENACTMENTS SO THAT THEIR LEGAL EFFECT WOULD CONTINUE AFTER 1997.
MRS CHAN EXPLAINED THAT THIS SYSTEMATIC LOCALISATION OF UK MERCHANT SHIPPING LEGISLATION HAD BEEN UNDERWAY FOR SOME YEARS AND HAD INVOLVED THE ENACTMENT OF PRIMARY AND SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION ADDRESSING SUCH ISSUES AS MARINE POLLUTION, SHIPPING SAFETY AND THE SETTING UP OF THE HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER.
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"THIS BILL REPLICATES ALL THE SUBSTANTIVE PROVISIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ENACTMENTS, WITH MODIFICATIONS ONLY WHERE NECESSARY CONFORM TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG, SHE SAID.
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IN ESSENCE, THE BILL PROVIDES THAT THE ATHENS CONVENTION AND THE CONVENTION ON LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR MARITIME CLAIMS SHALL BOTH HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW IN HONG KONG, SHE ADDED.
THE SECRETARY SAID THE CONTINUED APPLICATION TO THE CONVENTIONS WOULD ENSURE THAT DISPUTES INVOLVING AND THEIR LUGGAGE WERE DEALT WITH IN HONG KONG IN INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE.
HONG KONG OF SEA PASSENGERS ACCORDANCE WITH
BESIDES, IT WOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT SHIPOWNERS ARE ENTITLED ΤΟ PLACE LIMITS ON THEIR LIABILITY IN HONG KONG.
"SINCE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACTIVITIES MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO OUR ECONOMY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO APPLY INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED RULES TO SECURE THE EFFECTIVE OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SHIPPING INDUSTRY, SHE SAID.
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DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
WAGE PROTECTION FUND NOT COVERS VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION
THE GOVERNMENT HAS, AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, DECIDED NOT TO FURTHER EXTEND THE COVERAGE OF THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND TO INCLUDE VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ABUSE OF THE FUND AND THE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL IMPACT ON IT, MR GIAN ADDED.
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SPEAKING AT THE THIRD READING OF THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993, MR CHAN SAID, HOWEVER, EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP CASES COULD OBTAIN PAYMENT FROM THE FUND PROVIDED THEY PROCEED WITH THE PRESENTATION OF WINDING UP
TITIONS AGAINST THEIR EMPLOYERS.