XN000022-1985-05-15 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1985

+THE BILL DECLARES THE WATERS OF HONG KONG TO BE A PILOTAGE AREA AND REQUIRES COMPULSORY PILOTAGE IN THOSE WATERS FOR ALL SHIPS SPECIFIED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE.

+ IT ALSO EXEMPTS CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF SHIPS FROM COMPULSORY PILOTAGE AND EMPOWERS THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, AS THE PILOTAGE AUTHORITY, TO EXEMPT CERTAIN OTHER SHIPS SHOULD CIRCUMSTANCES SO REQUIRE,+ MR HIGGINSON SAID.

FERRIES AND HYDROFOILS OPERATING TO AND FROM MACAU AND THE PEARL RIVER AND ALSO CERTAIN WORKING CRAFT OPERATING WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS WERE EXEMPTED FROM THE PROVISIONS.

+THE MASTERS OF THESE VESSELS ARE EXPECTED TO BE TOTALLY FAMILIAR WITH LOCAL CONDITIONS AND, UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, WOULD NOT REQUIRE THE SERVICES OF A PILOT, HE EXPLAINED.

COMPULSORY PILOTAGE WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN THREE PHASES.

THE INITIAL PHASE OF COMPULSORY PILOTAGE WOULD COME INTO EFFECT ON AUGUST 1 THIS YEAR.

THIS PHASE WOULD PROVIDE FOR COMPULSORY PILOTAGE TO APPLY TO THREE CLASSES OF SHIPS: ALL SHIPS OVER 10 000 GROSS REGISTERED TONNES; ALL SHIPS OVER 1 000 GROSS REGISTERED TONNES PROCEEDING TO AND FROM CERTAIN SPECIFIED POINTS OR CARRYING SPECIFIED DANGEROUS GOODS- AND SHIPS OF 300 GROSS REGISTERED TONNES OR OVER WHICH ARE DISABLED FOR ANY REASON OR WHICH ARE LIKELY TO POSE A THREAT TO PROPERTY.

IT WAS HOPED THAT THE SECOND PHASE FOR ALL SHIPS OVER 5 000 GROSS REGISTERED TONNES AND THE THIRD PHASE FOR ALL SHIPS OVER 1 000 GROSS REGISTERED TONNES WOULD COME INTO FORCE IN 1987 AND 1989 RESPECTIVELY.

+THE REASON FOR THE PHASED INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY PILOTAGE IS TO ALLOW TIME FOR NECESSARY OPERATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS TO BE MADE AND FOR ADDITIONAL PILOTS TO BE RECRUITED AND TRAINED, HE EXPLAINED.

MR HIGGINSON SAID THESE PROPOSALS HAD BEEN DRAWN UP IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE HONG KONG PILOTS ASSOCIATION, THE PORTS COMMITTEE, THE PORTS OPERATION COMMITTEE AND THE PILOTAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ALL OF WHOM ENDORSED THE NEED FOR COMPULSORY PILOTAGE IN THE MANNER SUGGESTED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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