XN000022-1982-08-13 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1982

EXAMINATION CANDIDATES SHOULD BE WELL PREPARED

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MOST CANDIDATES SAT EXAMINATIONS FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY TO OPERATE PLEASURE VESSELS WITHOUT ADEQUATE PREPARATION, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

THIS EXPLAINED WHY ONLY 238 OUT OF 956 CANDIDATES LAST YEAR PASSED THE EXAMINATIONS HELD BY THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.

THE MAJORITY OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES EITHER HAD ATTENDED COURSES OR WERE REPEATERS, HE ADDED.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 12 000 LICENSED VESSELS IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING 4 500 PLEASURE BOATS.

+THE AIM OF THE EXAMINATION IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL WHO USE HONG KONG WATERS FOR COMMERCIAL, PLEASURE OR OTHER PURPOSES, HE POINTED OUT.

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FOR THIS REASON, EXAMINERS OF THE DEPARTMENT MUST ESTABLISH A CANDIDATE'S COMPETENCY TO TAKE CHARGE OF A PLEASURE VESSEL, HE EXPLAINED.

BUT MANY CANDIDATES, HE ADDED, DID NOT UNDERSTAND THIS REQUIREMENT.

AS THE DEPARTMENT COULD ONLY HANDLE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CANDIDATES FOR EACH EXAMINATION, SOME OF THOSE WHO NEEDED THE CERTIFICATE FOR EMPLOYMENT SUFFERED DELAY IN TAKING THE EXAMINATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+CANDIDATES ARE UNLIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL UNLESS THEY HAVE GAINED GOOD PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AND HAVE COVERED THE EXAMINATION SYLLABUS, HE SAID.

COPIES OF THE SYLLABUS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE EXAMINATION CENTRE

ON THE 10TH FLOOR OF THE RUMSEY STREET CAR PARK BUILDING.

THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC CONDUCTS COURSES IN BOTH ENGLISH

AND CHINESE ON HOW TO OPERATE PLEASURE VESSELS.

SIMILAR COURSES ARE ALSO OFFERED BY SAILING CLUBS

AND SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT 80 PER CENT OF THE CANDIDATES WHO HAD ATTENDED COURSES PASSED THE EXAMINATION AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT.

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