XN000022-1979-06-20 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1979

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UP-TO-DATE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA STANDARDS

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THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL, WHICH WILL ENABLE HONG KONG TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE REVISED 1974 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WHEN PASSED, THE BILL WOULD PLACE HONG KONG IN A POSITION TO SEEK TO HAVE THE CONVENTION, WHICH HAS BEEN RECENTLY RATIFIED BY MANY COUNTRIES, EXTENDED TO HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON, DAVID JEAFFRÉSON SAID IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.

THE CONVENTION WILL COME INTO FORCE ON MAY 25, 1980.

+TO AVOID POSSIBLE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SHIPS REGISTERED IN HONG KONG, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL COUNTRIES RECOGNISE THAT THE SHIPS CONFORM TO UP-TO-DATE STANDARDS, SO IT IS IN HONG KONG'S INTERESTS TO ENSURE THAT IT BECOMES A PARTY TO THE LATEST CONVENTION AS SOON AS IT COMES INTO FORCE, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.

THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA PROVIDES FOR UNIFORM SAFETY STANDARDS FOR OCEAN-GOING SHIPS.

THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE CONVENTION, DRAWN UP IN 1960, HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO HONG KONG AND GIVEN LEGISLATIVE EFFECT BY THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ORDINANCE AND CERTAIN UNITED KINGDOM MERCHANT SHIPPING ACTS APPLIED TO HONG KONG.

THE CONVENTION WAS FURTHER REVISED IN 1974.

FOUR BILLS PASSED *****

FOUR BILLS WERE PASSED INTO LAW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THEY ARE THE LAW AMENDMENT AND REFORM (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979, THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979, THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1979 AND THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTION OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT (MID-LEVELS) BILL 1979.

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