XN000022-1985-03-25 — Page 5

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MARCH 25,

SIR PHILIP WATCHES SEAMEN TRAINING

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE TODAY (MONDAY) VISITED THE SEAMEN'S TRAINING TEMPORARY CENTRE AT LITTLE SAI WAN TO SEE HOW LOCAL SEAMEN RECEIVE SPECIAL TRAINING WHICH ENABLES THEM TO ATTAIN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.

THE CENTRE OCCUPIES 8.5 HECTARES OF GROUND AT THE EASTERN END OF HONG KONG ISLAND AND HAS EXTENSIVE WATER FRONTAGE. AMONG ITS FACILITIES ARE A STEEL MOCK-UP SHIP, A SEA SURVIVAL TRAINING POOL, CARGO HANDLING GEAR AND A RANGE OF FIRE-FIGHTING AND LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT.

IT CAN ACCOMMODATE AND TRAIN 240 SEAMEN AT ANY ONE TIME. AT THE END OF A MONTH-LONG FREE TRAINING PROGRAMME, SUCCESSFUL TRAINEES RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE FROM THE MARINE DEPARTMENT INDICATING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO THE STANDARDS REQUIRED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION.

DURING THE VISIT THIS AFTERNOON, SIR PHILIP WATCHED TRAINEES LEARNING SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES, PRACTISING FIRE-FIGHTING, AND LAUNCHING LIFEBOATS. SIR PHILIP ALSO SAW TRAINEES ACQUAINTING THEMSELVES WITH THE OPERATION OF A LOOKOUT SIMULATOR AND WORK ING IN THE ENGINE MODEL ROOM AND THE RIGGING ROOM.

HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY MR FRANK CHAO, CHAIRMAN OF THE MERCANT NAVY TRAINING BOARD MR MORRIS MORGAN, THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND CAPTAIN J.E. HAWORTH, MANAGER OF THE TRAINING CENTRE.

THE SEAMEN'S TRAINING TEMPORARY CENTRE WAS SET UP BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL LAST YEAR AT THE REQUEST OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO LOCAL SEAMEN TO ENABLE THEM TO MEET THE MANDATORY STANDARD REQUIRED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS (1978).

THE CENTRE WILL TRAIN ABOUT 5 000 SERVING LOCAL SEAMEN OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS BEFORE IT MOVES TO A PERMANENT CENTRE AT TAI LAM CHUNG IN 1987. THE PERMANENT CENTRE WILL ALSO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING FOR NEW ENTRANTS.

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