XN000022-1989-03-30 — Page 2

THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1989

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PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON LOCAL CRAFT REVIEW BEGINS

A COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT CONTAINING PROPOSALS ON CHANGES IN THE LICENSING, SAFETY AND CONTROL OF LOCAL CRAFT WAS PRESENTED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT THIS (THURSDAY} AFTERNOON.

IN ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE DOCUMENT, ENTITLED THE "LOCAL CRAFT REVIEW", THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MARINE (SHIPPING), MR ALAN PYRKE, URGED LOCAL CRAFT OWNERS AND OPERATORS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES TO SEND THEIR VIEWS AND COMMENTS TO THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.

"THE CONSULTATION

PERIOD WILL BE FROM APRIL 1 TO JUNE 15, 1989," MR PYRKE SAID. "COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE IN WRITING BEFORE JUNE 15."

HE STRESSED THAT A DIALOGUE WITH ALL SECTIONS OF THE LOCAL MARINE INDUSTRY AND MARINE RECREATIONAL INTERESTS WAS CONSIDERED OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO ENSURE THAT A BALANCED VIEW WOULD BE ACHIEVED.

MR PYRKE POINTED OUT THAT COPIES OF THE REVIEW HAD BEEN SENT TO THE LOCAL CRAFT INDUSTRY, MARINE RECREATIONAL INTERESTS, UNIONS,

AS TO ASSOCIATIONS, YACHT CLUBS, FRANCHISED FERRY COMPANIES, AS WELL DISTRICT BOARDS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

OFFICES

"COPIES FOR ANYONE INTERESTED WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM APRIL 1 AT THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL, AND OUR LOCAL MARINE IN ABERDEEN, SHAU KEI WAN, YAU MA TEI, TSUEN WAN, TUEN SAI KUNG AND CHEUNG CHAU, HE ADDED.

P

MUN, TAI PO,

MR PYRKE SAID THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS OF BE SUMMED UP IN THREE BASIC PHILOSOPHIES:

THE

REVIEW COULD

DE-REGULATE IN KEEPING WITH THE DICTATES OF RISK MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS REMOVING OUTDATED PROVISIONS;

GIVE OWNERS AND OPERATORS MORE OPERATIONS BUT MAKE THEM MORE FOR THEIR ACTIONS; AND

FLEXIBILITY

IN

THEIR

RESPONSIBLE

AND ACCOUNTABLE

ALLOW OWNERS THE OPTIONS OF USING NON-GOVERNMENTAL FIRMS PERSONS FOR SURVEY WORK. EXCEPTING FOR HIGH RISK VESSELS.

OTHER MAIN IDEAS CONTAINED IN THE REVIEW ARE:

* NEW COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION.

OR

WILL

* USING BILINGUAL CODES OF PRACTICE, INSTRUCTIONS FOR SURVEYS,

GUIDELINES ETC. WHICH, TOGETHER WITH NEW LEGISLATION,

WITH COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENTS ON ALL

PROVIDE THE

PUBLIC

ASPECTS ON THE SAFETY AND CONTROL OF LOCAL CRAFT.

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