XN000022-1989-06-21 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21. 1989

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LOCALISATION OF MERCHANT SHIPPING LEGISLATION

POLLUTION} PROVISIONS

THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF BILL 1989 PROVIDES LOCAL LEGISLATION TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE OF TWO INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS AIMED AT THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF MARITIME POLLUTION INCIDENTS. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS. TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL. SIR PIERS SAID OF THE CONVENTIONS ALREADY APPLIED TO HONG KONG BUT THEY HAD GIVEN LEGISLATIVE BACKING BY VIRTUE OF UNITED KINGDOM ENACTMENTS.

BOTH

BEEN

LOCAL

"THESE UK ENACTMENTS NEED TO BE REPLACED BY EQUIVALENT LEGISLATION BEFORE 1997 SO THAT THERE IS A CONTINUITY OF LEGAL BACKING.

1973

"THIS BILL. IF ENACTED, WILL PROVIDE THAT CONTINUITY," HE SAID.

THE TWO CONVENTIONS ARE THE 1969 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

ΤΟ RELATING

OF INTERVENTION ON THE HIGH SEAS AND ITS PROTOCOL {KNOWN AS THE INTERVENTION CONVENTION); AND THE 1973 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF POLLUTION FROM SHIPS AND ITS PROTOCOL OF 1978 (KNOWN AS MARPOL 73/781.

SIR PIERS SAID THAT ESSENTIALLY THE BILL DID NOT INTRODUCE CHANGES OF SUBSTANCE TO THE EXISTING PROVISIONS.

ANY

"THE UNITED

REPLACED KINGDOM LEGISLATION IS MERELY BEING HONG KONG LEGISLATION HAVING THE SAME EFFECT.

BY

"THIS PROCESS OF LOCALISATION' OF THE UK LEGISLATION INVOLVES LARGELY THE SUBSTITUTION OF REFERENCES TO UK AUTHORITIES BY REFERENCES TO HONG KONG AUTHORITIES." THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.

THE BILL IMPLEMENTED THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERVENTION SUCH CONVENTION AND MARPOL 73/78 BY EMPOWERING THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE MEASURES ON THE HIGH SEAS AS MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT. MITIGATE OIL AND OR ELIMINATE DANGER TO OUR COASTLINE BY MARINE POLLUTION BY OTHER SUBSTANCES. FOLLOWING A MARITIME CASUALTY. SIR PIERS EXPLAINED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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