XN000022-1985-05-24 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1985

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COMMENTS SOUGHT ON HK SHIPPING REGISTER PLAN

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THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) PUBLISHED A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT PROPOSING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AUTONOMOUS HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER TO BE IN PLACE AND WORKING EFFECTIVELY WELL BEFORE 1997.

IT IS HOPED TO HAVE ALL COMMENTS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES, BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS BY THE END OF JULY,

THE DECISION TO PUBLISH INITIAL GOVERNMENT THINKING ON THE SHIPPING REGISTER WAS GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON TUESDAY.

THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR GERRY HIGGINSON, EXPLAINED THAT HONG KONG WAS AT PRESENT A BRITISH PORT OF REGISTRY AND CONSEQUENTLY ITS REGISTER WAS A BRITISH ONE.

+THIS WILL CEASE TO BE THE POSITION ON JULY 1, 1997,+ HE SAID. +STEPS THEREFORE NEED TO BE TAKEN TO ESTABLISH AN AUTONOMOUS HONG KONG REGISTER, SEPARATE FROM THE BRITISH REGISTER, TO BE IN PLACE AND WORKING EFFECTIVELY WELL BEFORE 1997 AND TO BE IN A FORM CAPABLE OF CONTINUING POST 1997 WITH THE MINIMUM OF CHANGE.+

MR HIGGINSON SAID THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AUTONOMOUS REGISTER AND THE ENACTMENT OF THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION WOULD LIKELY TAKE ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

IT WAS ENVISAGED, HE SAID, THAT THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE REGISTER WOULD INCLUDE.

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STANDARDS AND OBLIGATIONS SHOULD BE SET OUT IN LOCAL LEGISLATION,

* IT SHOULD NOT BE, NOR BE REGARDED AS, A FLAG

OF CONVENIENCE,

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IT SHOULD OPERATE TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS,

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IT SHOULD HAVE A DISTINCTIVE FLAG,

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FULL COSTS SHOULD BE RECOVERED BY FEES OR DUES,

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IT SHOULD ALLOW SHIPS TO BE REGISTERED AND DEREGISTERED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH THE MINIMUM OF RED TAPE+, AND

IT SHOULD BE AS ATTRACTIVE AS POSSIBLE TO SHIPOWNERS WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS LISTED.

/ONE CF