XN000022-1985-07-09 — Page 13

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TUESDAI, JULY 9, 1985

THE OUTCOME OF THE CONFERENCE MAY HAVE AN IMPORTANT BEARING ON THE PROPOSED SEPARATE AND AUTONOMOUS REGISTER OF SHIPPING FOR HONG KONG. ANY DECISIONS BY THE CONFERENCE WILL NEED TO BE REFLECTED IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NEW REGISTER. SUCH ISSUES AS THE LINK BETWEEN SHIP OWNERSHIP AND THE FLAG STATE AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH VESSELS MIGHT BE MANNED BY NATIONALS OF THE FLAG STATE WILL BE DEBATED.

A CONSULTATIVE PAPER ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HONG KONG REGISTER OF SHIPPING WAS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC

THIS PAPER SERVICES BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT. PROPOSED A SEPARATE AND AUTONOMOUS REGISTER WITH THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPAL FEATURES:

(A) ITS STANDARDS AND OBLIGATIONS SHOULD BE

SET OUT IN LOCAL LEGISLATION;

(B)

IT SHOULD NOT BE, NOR BE REGARDED AS, A FLAG OF CONVENIENCE;

(c)

IT SHOULD OPERATE TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS;

(D)

IT SHOULD HAVE A DISTINCTIVE FLAG;

(E)

FULL COSTS SHOULD BE RECOVERED BY FEES OR DUES;

(F)

(G)

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

IT SHOULD BE AS ATTRACTIVE AS POSSIBLE TO SHIPOWNERS WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF (A) - (F).

IT ALSO PROPOSED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SHIPPING ADVISORY BOARD.

THE FORM OF THE HONG KONG REGISTER WILL HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON ALL ASPECTS OF SHIPPING AND RELATED INDUSTRIES IN HONG KONG AND A WIDE RESPONSE IS EXPECTED. ALL SUBMISSIONS SHOULD REACH THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES BY JULY 31.

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