XN000022-1983-09-29 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1983

NEW EXECUTIVE KUK MEMBERS ELECTED

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MR NG CHUNG-WAN AND MR TSO SHIU-WAI WERE TODAY (THURSDAY) ELECTED ORDINARY MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

MR NG RECEIVED 43 VOTES AND MR TSO 41 VOTES IN THE BY-ELECTION HELD BY SECRET BALLOT AT THE KUK'S HEADQUARTERS IN KOWLOON TONG.

THERE WERE 17 CANDIDATES: EIGHT FROM SOUTHERN DISTRICT (INCLUDING TSUEN WAN, ISLANDS AND SAI KUNG), SEVEN FROM YUEN LONG (INCLUDING TUEN MUN) AND TWO FROM TAI PO (INCLUDING SHA TIN AND NORTH).

THE TWO SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL REPLACE MR HO SUN-KUEN, WHO HAS BECOME AN EX-OFFICIO COUNCILLOR UPON HIS APPOINTMENT AS NT JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, AND MR LAM CHAK-MAN, WHO LOST HIS VICE-CHAIRMANSHIP AT THE PING SHAN RURAL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS LAST MARCH AND MUST AUTOMATICALLY GIVE UP HIS ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP.

THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR HAIDER BARMA, WAS THE RETURNING OFFICER.

HK TO FOLLOW SEAFARERS TRAINING CONVENTION

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THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE THAT HONG KONG SHOULD SEEK EXTENSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS (1978) TO THE TERRITORY.

THE CONVENTION PRESCRIBES FOR THE FIRST TIME INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED STANDARDS FOR THE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OF SEAFARERS - INCLUDING OFFICERS AND RATINGS - WHO ARE INVOLVED IN WATCHKEEPING DUTIES ON BOARD, A MARINE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED TODAY.

THE CONVENTION, WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 28, 1984, WAS DRAWN UP IN 1978 UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE THEN INTERGOVERNMENTAL MARITIME CONSULTATIVE ORGANISATION, NOW RE-NAMED THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION, OF WHICH HONG KONG IS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER, HE SAID.

HONG KONG HAS CONSTANTLY FOLLOWED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ON THE SAFETY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY AT SEA. THE CONVENTION IS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT IN THIS RESPECT WHICH WILL BENEFIT BOTH HONG KONG SEAMEN AND OWNERS OF HONG KONG REGISTERED SHIPS, HE SAID.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SEAMEN'S TRAINING CENTRE AT LITTLE SAI WAN WILL HELP TO ENSURE THAT THE TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS OF HONG KONG SEAMEN WILL BE RECOGNISED INTERNATIONALLY AS CONFORMING TO THE STANDARDS OF THE CONVENTION, THUS PROVIDING A DEGREE OF PROTECTION FOR THE EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS OF HONG KONG SEAMEN.

THE CONVENTION WILL IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF HONG KONG REGISTERED SHIPS AND HELP MAINTAIN THEIR COMPETITIVENESS WORLDWIDE, HE SAID.

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