XN000022-1987-12-06 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, DECEMBRA 6, 1987

MARINE DEPARTMENT RE-ORGANISATION

PROPOSAL DEPARTMENT

FOR JOINT

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON NOVEMBER 25, 1987 APPROVED A TO ESTABLISH A NEW TECHNICAL POLICY DIVISION IN THE MARINE FURTHER TO THE INTRODUCTION OF AN AUTONOMOUS SHIPPING REGISTER HONG KONG BY EARLY 1990'S IN ACCORDANCE WITH DECLARATION.

INDUSTRY,

THE SINO-BRITISH

SHIPPING

THE

THAT

IN ORDER TO MEET WITH THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ALSO APPROVED RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FOUR PREVIOUS DIVISIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT BE RE-ORGANISED INTO THREE

MARINE MARINE DISTRICTS DIVISION, PORT SERVICES DIVISION, SHIPPING DIVISION AND A PLANNING BRANCH. THE CHANGES BECAME EFFECTIVE ON DECEMBER 1, 1987.

DIVISIONS

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DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR D.A. HALL, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT HONG KONG AT PRESENT WAS A BRITISH PORT OF REGISTRY WITH AN EXPANDING REGISTERED FLEET CURRENTLY

SOME EIGHT MILLION GROSS REGISTERED TONS.

OF

IN ITS ADMINISTRATION OF THIS FLEET THE MARINE DEPARTMENT RELIES ALMOST ENTIRELY ON THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SHIPPING POLICY IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG AND FOR THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS INCLUDING THOSE DRAWN UP BY THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION. IN ADDITION THE UK PROVIDES FOR THE TRANSLATION OF SUCH POLICY INTO NEW LEGISLATION, PROCEDURES, INSTRUCTIONS TO SURVEYORS, NOTICES TO SHIPOWNERS, STANDARDS FOR EQUIPMENT APPROVAL AND VARIOUS OTHER TECHNICAL CONTROLS AND ARRANGEMENTS.

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"HONG KONG HAS VERY LITTLE SHIPPING LEGISLATION OF ITS OWN, MR HALL SAID. "AT PRESENT WE RELY LARGELY ON THE EXTENSION OF UNITED KINGDOM LEGISLATION TO HONG KONG THROUGH ORDERS IN COUNCIL."

HOWEVER, IN PREPARATION FOR 1997 AND IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, IT IS NECESSARY ΤΟ DEVELOP A SHIPPING REGISTER WHICH IS INDEPENDENT OF BRITISH LEGISLATION AND WHICH CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE AFTER 1997.

TO ACHIEVE THIS, MR HALL SAID, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR HONG KONG TO DEVISE AND DEVELOP DETAILED POLICIES, STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES BASED ON THE AGREED GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE JOINT DECLARATION; CONSULT WITH THE LOCAL SHIPPING INDUSTRY IN RESPECT OF POLICIES; TRANSLATE THESE POLICIES, STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES INTO LEGISLATION; AND MODIFY THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF LEGISLATION AND THE CONTROL OF THE REGISTERED FLEET IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS. THE NEW TECHNICAL POLICY DIVISION WILL UNDERTAKE THESE FUNCTIONS AND ALSO RATIONALISE THE POLICY REGARDING CHINA COASTAL TRAFFIC AND THE SAFETY STANDARDS OF VESSELS LICENSED IN HONG KONG.

IN ADDITION TO THE NEW TECHNICAL POLICY DIVISION, THE EXISTING FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN REORGANISED INTO THREE DIVISIONS

MARINE DISTRICTS, PORT SERVICES, SHIPPING

AND A PLANNING BRANCH.

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THE MAIN .................