XN000022-1990-10-31 — Page 62

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1990

"THOSE WHO HOLD CERTIFICATES WHICH HAVE BEEN VALIDATED TERMS OF TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE AS BEING BROADLY EQUIVALENT TO ISSUED IN HONG KONG WILL, ON APPLICATION, BE LICENSED ΤΟ SERVE OFFICER POSTS ON HONG KONG SHIPS," SHE SAID.

TO ENSURE THAT STANDARDS ARE MAINTAINED, MRS CHAN SAID NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM ΤΟ HANDLE ALLEGATIONS OF NEGLIGENCE, MISCONDUCT AND INCOMPETENCE AGAINST AN OFFICER, HE WAS A LICENSEE OR A HOLDER OF A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY IN HONG KONG.

IN

IN

IT WAS

SERIOUS

WHETHER

OBTAINED

"AT PRESENT, SUCH INQUIRIES CAN BE CONDUCTED ONLY IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF A SHIPPING CASUALTY. THIS IS UNDULY RESTRICTIVE.

"THE BILL THEREFORE PROVIDES FOR SUCH INQUIRIES TO BE HELD AT ANY TIME AND FOR THE OFFICER'S LICENCE OR CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY, AS THE CASE MAY BE, TO BE SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SO WARRANT, SHE EXPLAINED,

+

THIS PROPOSAL WAS BASED ON SIMILAR PROVISIONS IN THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 1970 OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, MRS CHAN ADDED.

SHE SAID THAT THE PREPARATORY WORK FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW SHIPPING REGISTER WAS WELL ADVANCED AND, SUBJECT TO ENACTMENT OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (REGISTRATION) BILL BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS ON NOVEMBER 7, THE NEW REGISTER WILL BE LAUNCHED ON SCHEDULE ON DECEMBER 3.

"WITH REGARD TO THE MATTERS IN THIS BILL, THE VALIDATION PANEL HAS ALREADY CONVENED TO LAY THE GROUND WORK FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE ISSUE OF LICENCES TO SUITABLY QUALIFIED FOREIGN SEAFARERS то COINCIDE WITH THE INCEPTION OF THE NEW REGISTER, MRS CHAN SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

H

BILL SEEKS TO CLEAR CLOUDS OVER APPARATUS

FOR VEHICLE SPEED ASCERTAINING

* * * * * *

THE

THE EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 SEEKS TO CLARIFY THAT PROVISIONS OF SECTION 28 OF THE EVIDENCE ORDINANCE APPLY ΤΟ ANY APPARATUS DESIGNED AND USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASCERTAINING THE SPEED OR WEIGHT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ASPREY SAID THE EXISTING SECTION 28 OF THE ORDINANCE PROVIDED FOR THE ADMISSION AS EVIDENCE IN COURT OF A CERTIFICATE OF THE ACCURACY OF A RADAR DEVICE OR APPARATUS DESIGNED AND USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASCERTAINING THE SPEED OF A MOTOR VEHICLE.

/"IT IS