XN000022-1984-09-12 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1984

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MORE LAWS TO IMPROVE SEAFARERS' JOBS

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NEW REGULATIONS AND LAWS ARE BEING PREPARED TO FURTHER ENHANCE CONDITIONS ON BOARD MERCHANT VESSELS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THESE EFFORTS ARE A FOLLOW-UP TO AN INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION CONVENTION ON MERCHANT SHIPPING, EXTENDED TO HONG KONG IN LATE 1982.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT AT THE TIME OF ITS EXTENSION, MANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS WERE ALREADY COVERED OR EXCEEDED BY HONG KONG'S LEGISLATION OR ACCEPTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE MEANS.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, MEMBERS TO THE CONVENTION UNDERTAKE TO HAVE LAWS ON SAFETY STANDARDS ON BOARD SHIPS, SOCIAL SECURITY MEASURES FOR SEAFARERS AND ADEQUATE PROCEDURĖS FOR INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS AND FOR OFFICIAL ENQUIRIES INTO SERIOUS MARINE CASUALTIES.

REGULATIONS UNDER PREPARATION INCLUDE:

* MERCHANT SHIPPING (MEDICAL EXAMINATION) REGULATIONS, PRESCRIBING MEDICAL STANDARDS OF FITNESS FOR SERVICE AT SEA AND THE FREQUENCY OF SUCH EXAMINATIONS. HONG KONG INTENDS TO FOLLOW THE CONVENTION MORE CLOSELY THAN THE U.K. BY REQUIRING THE MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS WITHIN TWO YEARS, AS AGAINST FIVE YEARS IN THE U.K. * MERCHANT SHIPPING (HOURS OF WORK) REGULATIONS, PROVIDING

FOR THE MINIMUM PERIODS OF REST FOR WATCHKEEPERS.

* MERCHANT SHIPPING (CODE OF SAFE WORKING PRACTICES)

REGULATIONS, PRESCRIBING THE NUMBER OF COPIES OF THE BOOKLET +CODE OF SAFE WORKING PRACTICES WHICH MUST BE KEPT ON BOARD A SHIP, AND THE WAY THESE BOOKLETS ARE TO BE DISTRIBUTED.

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MERCHANT SHIPPING (SAFETY OFFICIALS AND REPORTING OF ACCIDENTS AND DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES) REGULATIONS, PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF SAFETY OFFICERS, SAFETY COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIVES ON BOARD A VESSEL. AND THE OBLIGATION FOR REPORTING ACCIDENTS AND DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES.

ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION UNDER CONSIDERATION COVERS SUCH MATTERS AS PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT, SAFE MOVEMENT AND SAFETY SIGNS ON BOARD SHIPS, GUARDING OF MACHINERY AND ENTRY INTO CONFINED SPACES.

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