XN000022-1985-01-24 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1985

HONG KONG'S MAJOR SHIPPING ROLE STRESSED

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HONG KONG BASED SHIPOWNERS NOW CONTROL ABOUT 60 MILLION DEADWEIGHT TONS OR NEARLY 12 PER CENT OF THE WORLD MERCHANT FLEET, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS SAID TODAY.

+ALTHOUGH PRESENTLY THEY REGISTER THEIR SHIPS UNDER MORE THAN 20 DIFFERENT FLAGS, THEY PROBABLY CONTROL THE SECOND BIGGEST MERCHANT FLEET IN THE WORLD, AFTER JAPAN, MR THOMAS TOLD THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED SHIPBROKERS AT A LUNCH MEETING TODAY.

POINTING OUT THAT UNDER THE ANNEX TO THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, THE POSITION OF HONG KONG AS A MAJOR SHIPPING CENTRE WOULD BE MAINTAINED, HE SAID.

+ 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.

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

THESE ARRANGEMENTS, MR THOMAS SAID, PRESENTED FORMIDABLE TASKS IN THE FUTURE FOR THOSE IN THE GOVERNMENT.

+CLEARLY THE PROVISIONS OF THE ANNEX WILL DEMAND THAT CHANGES BE MADE TO THE PRESENT SET UP. AT THE PRESENT, HONG

THIS CANNOT KONG OPERATES AS A BRITISH PORT OF REGISTRY. CONTINUE BEYOND 1997. SO HONG KONG WILL HAVE TO HAVE, INDEPENDENTLY OF UNITED KINGDOM LEGISLATION, ITS OWN LAWS GOVERNING MERCHANT SHIPPING.

FOR

+THESE WILL HAVE TO HAVE EXTRA-TERRITORIAL EFFECT. THIS LAWS OF THE FLAG MUST FOLLOW THE SHIP WHEREVER SHE SAILS,+ HE SAID.

HONG KONG'S LEGISLATION AT PRESENT HAD NO POWER TO LEGISLATE EXTRA-TERRITORIALLY, BUT THE PARLIAMENTARY BILL GIVEN A SECOND READING IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS LAST MONDAY PROVIDED FOR ORDERS IN COUNCIL TO BE MADE TO ENABLE HONG KONG TO MAKE SUCH LAWS, HE SAID.

IN 1984, MR THOMAS SAID, SOME 11 883 OCEAN GOING VESSELS CALLED HERE, NEARLY FOUR PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND TRADED AND DISCHARGED MORE THAN 41.5 MILLION TONNES OF CARGO, A 12 PER CENT INCREASE. IN ADDITION MORE THAN 8.79 MILLION PASSENGERS WERE CARRIED BY JET FOILS, HYDROFOILS AND IN FERRIES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND MACAU, 10 PER CENT UP IN 1983.

ANOTHER 689 827 PASSENGERS WERE CARRIED TO AND FROM GUANGZHOU-6.5 PER CENT UP. AND IN 1984. THE PORT OF HONG KONG HANDLED A TOTAL OF 2.1 MILLION TEU'S (20 FT EQUIVALENT UNITS).

HONG KONG