XN000022-1983-01-19 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1983

THERE WERE ALSO OTHER REASONS FOR THE POSTINGS, +SUCH AS THE APPLICATION OF THE OPEN DIRECTORATE CONCEPT, THE IMMINENT RETIREMENT OF SEVERAL OFFICERS, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVISATION OF THE DIRECTORATE STAFF OF THE FORMER TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE RE-ORGANISATION EXERCISE IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,+ HE SAID.

SIR PHILIP SAID SOME COMMENTATORS HAD QUESTIONED THE WISDOM OF ANNOUNCING A RELATIVELY LARGE NUMBER OF POSTINGS AT THE SAME TIME.

+

+ IT WAS PREFERABLE TO ANNOUNCE COMPREHENSIVE AND CAREFULLY PLANNED POSTINGS OF THIS SORT IN TRANCHES ANOTHER TRANCHE WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW - RATHER THAN SINGLY AS THEY OCCUR, SO AS TO TRY TO AVOID UNHEALTHY SPECULATION AND TO UNDERSCORE THE POINT THAT OUR CONSTANT ENDEAVOUR IS TO DEPLOY STAFF TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE SO FAR AS THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS CONCERNED AND CONSIDERATIONS OF CAREER PLANNING DICTATE, HE SAID.

FEE FOR LICENSED SHIPPING CREW DEPARTMENTS

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A BILL INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY SEEKS TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL FEE FOR LICENSED CREW DEPARTMENTS OF SHIPPING COMPANIES.

THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (RECRUITING OF SEAMEN) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 PROPOSES TO RAISE THIS FEE FROM $500 TO $5 000, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON P. JACOBS, SAID.

+THE INCREASE IS LARGE IN PERCENTAGE TERMS, BUT THE PROPOSED FEE IS NOT UNREASONABLE IN REAL TERMS, MR JACOBS SAID, IN MOVING THE BILL THROUGH A SECOND READING.

THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE STIPULATES THAT TO PROTECT HONG KONG SEAMEN AGAINST EXPLOITATION, THEY MUST BE RECRUITED THROUGH THE SEAMEN'S RECRUITMENT OFFICE OR THROUGH A LICENSED CREW DEPARTMENT OF A SHIPPING COMPANY.

THE LICENCE FEE HAS NOT BEEN REVISED SINCE 1966 WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED, MR JACOBS POINTED OUT.

IN VIEW OF GENERAL INFLATION AND TO ENSURE THAT APPLICANTS FOR LICENCES ARE SERIOUS IN THEIR INTENTIONS, IT IS NOW NECESSARY TO INCREASE THE FEE, HE EXPLAINED.

TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENCE, A SHIPPING COMPANY MUST EMPLOY AT LEAST 200 SEAMEN AND THE LARGEST COMPANY CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 2 350.

+AT THE PROPOSED FEE LEVEL, THE AVERAGE ANNUAL COST ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE LICENCE FOR EACH SEAMAN RECRUITED WOULD BE NOT MORE THAN $25, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE DEPARTMENT,+ MR JACOBS SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.