XN000022-1974-12-20 — Page 4

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1974

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STIFFER PENALTIES FOR MARINE OFFENCES

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AN AMENDING LEGISLATION WHICH SEEKS TO IMPOSE STIFFER PENALTIES ON MARINE OFFENCES WILL COME INTO OPERATION NEXT WEEK.

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THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE - WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT ON DECEMBER 28 THIS YEAR SEEKS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE EXISTING PENALTIES IMPOSED ON SOME 100 MARINE OFFENCES.

COMMENTING ON THE LEGISLATION, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT THE RATE OF PENALTIES FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WAS +INCONSISTENT WITH PRESENT MONETARY VALUES.+

+THE INCREASE IS DESIGNED TO MAKE THE PENALTIES CURRENTLY COMMENSURATE WITH THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENCES WHICH ARE MAINLY CONCERNED WITH PASSENGER SAFETY.+

AS AN EXAMPLE, THE SPOKESMAN INDICATED THAT THE PENALTY FOR CARRYING EXCESS PASSENGERS ON BOARD A VESSEL WOULD BE RAISED FROM A FINE OF $2,000 PLUS $500 FOR EVERY EXCESS PASSENGER TO $10,000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT, PLUS $5,000 FOR EVERY EXCESS PASSENGER.

AS FOR THE OFFENCE OF ENDANGERING THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE ON THE SEA, THE PENALTY WILL BE INCREASED FROM A FINE OF $4,000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT TO $50,000 AND TWO YEARS IMPRISONMENT.

UNDER THE NEW LAW, THE OFFENCE FOR CARRYING PASSENGERS IN A VESSEL NOT LICENSED TO DO SO WILL BE PUNISHABLE WITH A FINE OF $50,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS, PLUS A FINE OF $5,000 FOR EACH PASSENGER ON BOARD.

THE AMENDING LEGISLATION ALSO SEEKS TO ENABLE THE DIRECTOR

OF MARINE TO MAKE

RULES RELATING TO THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY AS MASTERS, FIRST AND SECOND MATES OR ENGINEERS IN THE MERCHANT NAVY,

IT ALSO EMPOWERS THE DIRECTOR TO DETERMINE THE STANDARD OF COMPETENCY TO BE ATTAINED, THE PROCEDURES, SUBJECTS AND METHOD OF CONDUCTING THE RELATED EXAMINATIONS AS WELL AS THE APPOINTMENT OF EXAMINERS.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IN THE PAST HONG KONG HAD BEEN CLOSELY TIED TO THE RULES MADE BY THE UNITED KINGDOM CONCERN- ING EXAMINATIONS AND ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES.

/+WE OFFEN