FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1993

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MORE THAN 80 PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS CONSIDERED THAT, COMPARED WITH THE YEAR BEFORE, THE OVERALL FAVOURABILITY OF HONG KONG AS A REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS OR REGIONAL OFFICE HAD IMPROVED OR HAD REMAINED SATISFACTORY.

AND

REGIONAL

COPIES OF THE SURVEY REPORT, IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, INCLUDING LISTS OF REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS

ARE OFFICES, AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE DATA AND SERVICËS DIVISION OF THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AT ROOM 1419, OCEAN CENTRE,

0

PILOTAGE REVIEW CONSULTANCY TO RECOMMEND PORT CHARGES

REVIEW

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS COMMISSIONED A CONSULTANCY TO THE PRESENT PILOTAGE SYSTEM IN HONG KONG AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY CHARGES NECESSARY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PORT JN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER FROM NEXT YEAR TO 2011.

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR ALLAN PYRKE, ANNOUNCED THIS TODAY (FRIDAY) WHEN HE SIGNED THE CONTRACT FOR THE $1.95 MILLION CONSULTANCY AT THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS IN HARBOUR BUILDING, CENTRAL.

SIGNING THE CONTRACT FOR THE ROTTERDAM PILOTS AND MARINE ANALYTICS FROM THE NETHERLANDS WAS MR DAVID A GOWING.

MR PYRKE SAID: "THE NUMBER OF VESSELS USING THE PORT AND REQUIRING PILOTAGE IS RAPIDLY INCREASING. THIS, TOGETHER WITH THE PLANNED WESTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FOCUS OF PORT ACTIVITY ENVISAGED BY THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (PADS) AND THE URBAN DEMANDS FOR RECLAIMED LAND, HAS LED TO THE NEED TO REASSESS THE PATTERN AND CONTROL OF SHIPPING MOVEMENTS.

"THIS CHANGES NECESSITATE A REVIEW OF THE CURRENT PILOTAGE SERVICES WHICH ARE A VITAL LINK IN ENSURING THE CONTINUING SAFETY OF SHIPS IN THE PORT.

OF

PILOTAGE IN HONG KONG IS COMPULSORY FOR OCEAN-GOING VESSELS 5,000 GROSS TONS OR OVER, ALONG WITH CERTAIN OTHER CATEGORIES OF VESSELS.

PILOTS ARE SELF-EMPLOYED AND ARE GOVERNED BY APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIONS UNDER THE PILOTAGE AUTHORITY WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE.

MR PYRKE SAID THE SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY WOULD INCLUDE THE

FOLLOWING:

*

GEOGRAPHICAL EXTENT OF PILOTAGE SERVICES;

* LOCATION OF PILOT BOARDING STATIONS AND METHODS OF BOARDING;

* THE SIZE AND TYPE OF VESSEL FOR WHICH PILOT'S

SHOULD BE COMPULSORY;

SERVICES

/* THE NEED

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