XN000022-1985-05-24 — Page 3

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.. JAY, MAY 24, 1985

ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS WOULD POSSIBLY BE THE

SETTING UP OF A SHIPPING ADVISORY BOARD.

THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE BOARD WOULD BE TO ADVISE THE ADMINISTRATION ON BROAD POLICY FOR THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT AND GOOD MANAGEMENT OF THE HONG KONG SHIPPING INDUSTRY.

AS MR HIGGINSON EXPLAINED: +ONE OF ITS EARLY TASKS WOULD BE TO ADVISE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AUTONOMOUS REGISTER FOR THE TERRITORY AND TO OVERSEE HONG KONG'S DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE BRITISH REGISTER AND THE CONCOMITANT LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY CHANGES THAT WILL BE NECESSARY.+

+THE BOARD WOULD INITIALLY BE NON-STATUTORY. BUT CONSIDERATION MIGHT BE GIVEN TO IT BECOMING STATUTORY AFTER IT HAD BEEN IN OPERATION FOR SOME TIME,

+

SECTION VIII OF ANNEX 1 TO THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG PROVIDES THAT THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION +SHALL MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S PREVIOUS SYSTEM OF SHIPPING MANAGEMENT AND SHIPPING REGULATION, INCLUDING THE SYSTEM FOR REGULATING CONDITIONS OF SEAMEN.+

IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT THE SAR SHALL BE AUTHORISED TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A SHIPPING REGISTER AND ISSUE RELATED CERTIFICATES UNDER ITS OWN LEGISLATION.+

AT PRESENT HONG KONG HAS SOME 839 SHIPS AND 6,6 MILLION EROSS TONNAGE REGISTERED.

MR HIGGINSON SAID THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT WAS PUBLISHED TO OBTAIN VIEWS AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXPERIENCE OF ALL SHIPPING INTERESTS.

+THE DOCUMENT IS ESSENTIALLY A SPECIALISED' GREEN PAPER WHICH SETS OUT THE INITIAL THINKING OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE ISSUES WHICH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, HE SAID, +SOME ARE POTENTIALLY CONTROVERSIAL. ISSUES SUCH AS THE FLAG, OWNERSHIP, THE NATIONALITY OF OFFICERS AND SEAMEN, THE LANGUAGE OF EXAMINATION AND COMMAND. AND THE CONCEPT OF AN AUTONOMOUS SHIPPING REGISTER ARE LIKELY TO STIMULATE CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSION AND DEBATE.

+ IT IS IMPORTANT ALSO THAT IN FORMULATING ANY NEW HONG KONG REGISTER, BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL VIEWS REGARDING THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

+ONCE ALL VIEWS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED, AND SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, A FORMAL POLICY STATEMENT ON THE WAY FORWARD WOULD BE PUBLISHED.+

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