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Members will recall that the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Bill is part of our on-going exercise to localise UK legislation applying to Hong Kong so that the existing system of laws will continue after 1997. The Bill will also consolidate existing Hong Kong legislation which regulates the employment and conditions of
work of seafarers.
All but one of the proposed amendments are changes to the Chinese text, which would remove possible discrepancies in meaning between the two texts of the Bill.
The other is in respect of Clause 124 of the Bill which empowers the Seafarers' Authority, meaning the Director of Marine, to prescribe various forms. These forms, which will be prescribed to replace the current sets in use, are routine, administrative documents which enable the Seafarers' Authority to discharge his functions effectively. The existing forms are not subsidiary legislation. We intend to maintain this system in the Bill and the proposed amendment will make this clear.
Mr Chairman, I beg to move.
End/Wednesday, June 14, 1995
Amend schedule of Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Bill
Following is the speech by the acting Secretary for Economic Services, Mrs Elizabeth Bosher, in the committee stage amendments of the schedule of the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Bill in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr Chairman,
I move that the Schedule specified be amended as set out in the paper circulated to Members.
Schedule 2 to the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Bill sets out the consequential amendments to various enactments required by the Bill. Since the Bill's introduction, we have identified additional provisions which also require minor consequential amendments to make them consistent with the Bill. Some of the consequential amendments have to be replaced because the authentic Chinese texts of the affected ordinances have been declared since the publication of the Bill.
Mr Chairman, I beg to move.
End/Wednesday, June 14, 1995