XN000022-1990-11-12 — Page 4

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1990

MEETS

THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE SHIP

ALL WITH REGARD TO SAFETY, POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CREW THE SHIP IS ACCEPTED FOR REGISTRATION.

THE

REQUIREMENTS

WELFARE

BEFORE

WHICH

THE DEPARTMENT IS OF THE VIEW THAT THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, ARE WELCOME TO HONG KONG SHIPOWNERS, WOULD NOT ONLY PRESERVE THE MERITS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF SHIP SURVEYS BUT WOULD ALSO STRENGTHEN THE CLOSE LINK BETWEEN HONG KONG AND SHIPS ON ITS REGISTER.

IN ADDITION, IT ALSO GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO MONITOR THE CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES' INTERPRETATION OF THE REGULATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO SURVEYORS APPLICABLE TO HONG KONG REGISTERED SHIPS.

UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE STAFF ASSOCIATION AND SURVEYORS, THERE IS A RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF SOME SURVEYORS TO ACCEPT THESE NEW ARRANGEMENTS.

WHILST THE DEPARTMENT HAS SOME SYMPATHY то THE SURVEYORS CONCERNS REGARDING THE DETAIL ASPECTS OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS, THE DEPARTMENT TOTALLY REJECTS THEIR ASSERTION THAT THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS ARE IMPRACTICAL AND WOULD COMPROMISE THE SAFETY STANDARDS OF HONG KONG REGISTERED SHIPS.

THE

INDEED THE NEW SURVEY ARRANGEMENTS ARE IN LINE WITH PRACTICE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE WORLD'S RESPECTED SHIPPING REGISTERS.

THAT

THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO STUDIED VERY CAREFULLY THE ALTERNATIVE PUT UP BY THE STAFF ASSOCIATION BUT HAS COME TO THE CONCLUSION FOR LEGAL, ETHICAL AND OTHER REASONS IT IS UNABLE TO ENDORSE IT.

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HK LOOKS FORWARD TO SATISFACTORY OUTCOME OF TALKS

HONG KONG LOOKS

* * *

FORWARD

ΤΟ A SATISFACTORY

OUTCOME OF

THE

URUGUAY ROUND TALKS RESULTING IN AN AGREEMENT WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO LIBERALISATION OF WORLD TRADE IN TEXTILES AND CLOTHING.

THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID THIS ASIA IN HONG TODAY (MONDAY) AT THE OPENING OF THE FOURTH INTERSTOFF KONG INTERNATIONAL

SHOW AT THE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION

CENTRE.

FABRIC

MR CHAN SAID AS A FREE TRADE ECONOMY HONG KONG WAS A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM ADVOCATED BY THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT) AND ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE URUGUAY ROUND.

HE SAID ONE OF THE SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION ROUND, WHICH FOR OBVIOUS REASONS WAS OF VITAL CONCERN WAS TEXTILES AND CLOTHING.

*

IN THE URUGUAY

TO HONG KONG,

/HE SAID

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