XN000022-1984-11-12 — Page 2

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1984

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HK AIMS FOR WORLD SHIPPING ROLE

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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, TODAY (MONDAY) PLEDGED HIS EFFORTS TO HELP MAKE HONG KONG A WORLD SHIPPING CENTRE WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE 1984 EXPOSHIP FAR EAST EXHIBITION HERE, MR THOMAS SAID THAT ALTHOUGH LOCALLY-BASED SHIPOWNERS CURRENTLY REGISTERED THE IR SHIPS UNDER MORE THAN 20 FLAGS, THEY PROBABLY CONTROLLED THE SECOND LARGEST MERCHANT FLEET IN THE WORLD AFTER JAPAN.

+IF SUITABLE LEGISLATIVE ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH MODERN AND EFFICIENT FACILITIES FOR REGISTRATION, OPERATION AND CERTIFICATION, I CAN SEE A FUTURE FOR HONG KONG AS A SHIPPING CENTRE THAT WOULD DEMONSTRATE THE REALITY OF ITS CONTRIBUTION TO SEA TRANSPORT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

+WITH MY LIFETIME INVOLVEMENT IN MARITIME LEGAL AFFAIRS, AND MY PRESENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG LAWS, I GIVE MY FULL SUPPORT TO THESE ASPIRATIONS AND I SHALL TRY TO SEE THEM BROUGHT TO FRUITION WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS,+ MR THOMAS PLEDGED.

ON THIS TIME SCHEDULE, HE EXPLAINED, IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE THAT LONG TO PROVIDE THE LEGISLATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH HONG KONG COULD ESTABLISH AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION AND STANDING AS A SEPARATE REGISTER.

+THERE IS THEREFORE MUCH WORK TO BE DONE, BUT I WELCOME THE PLEDGE OF SUPPORT AND FULL COOPERATION THAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY GOVERNMENT FROM THE HONG KONG SHIPOWNERS ASSOCIATION,+ HE SAID.

WITH THESE POSSIBILITIES, HE SAID, IT WAS NOT SURPRISING THAT SO MANY EXHIBITORS HAD BEEN ATTRACTED TO THE EXHIBITION WITH ITS IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY.

HE TOLD HIS AUDIENCE THAT UNDER THE SINO-BRITISH DRAFT AGREEMENT, HONG KONG'S POSITION AS A MAJOR SHIPPING CENTRE WILL BE MAINTAINED.

THE SYSTEMS OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND SHIPPING REGULATION WILL CONTINUE. PRIVATE SHIPPING BUSINESSES AND SHIPPING-RELATED BUSINESS INCLUDING CONTAINER TERMINALS MAY CONTINUE TO OPERATE FREELY IN THE PROPOSED HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION.

MR THOMAS SAID HONG KONG WILL HAVE ITS OWN SHIPPING REGISTER AND WILL ISSUE CERTIFICATES IN THE NAME OF +HONG KONG, CHINA+, WHILE MERCHANT SHIPPING WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE FREE ACCESS TO THE PORTS OF HONG KONG.

/+JOR THOSE