XN000022-1990-11-16 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1990

AUTONOMOUS HK SHIPPING REGISTER TO BE OPEN NEXT MONTH * * * * *

THE NEW AUTONOMOUS HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER WILL BE OPEN DECEMBER 3 THIS YEAR AND WILL REPLACE THE PRESENT REGISTER WHICH PART OF THE BRITISH REGISTER.

ON

IS

THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR MICHAEL C.C. SZE, ANNOUNCED THIS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (FRIDAY).

WITH

"THE NEW HONG KONG REGISTER WILL BE A HIGH QUALITY REGISTER NO COMPROMISE ON SAFETY, POLLUTION PREVENTION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS STIPULATED IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION CONVENTIONS.

"IT HAS TAKEN INTO FULL ACCOUNT REQUIREMENT OF HONG KONG SHI POWNERS WHO CURRENTLY OWN OR MANAGE 10 PER CENT OF THE WORLD TONNAGE," HE SAID.

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MR SZE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT IN THE SHIP REGISTRY FOR ITS REVENUE INDEED IT WOULD BE A LITTLE TIME BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT FULLY RECOVERED THE COST OF OPERATING THE NEW HONG KONG REGISTER AND WAS NOT ATTRACTING NEW TONNAGE FOR ITS OWN SAKE.

—

"OUR EMPHASIS WILL BE ON A GENUINE AND CLOSE LINK BETWEEN THE SHIP AND HONG KONG.

"IN OTHER WORDS MY PRIMARY TARGET IS SHIPS OWNED OR MANAGED BY COMPANIES IN HONG KONG WHICH, AS I SAID, IS 10 PER CENT OF THE WORLD FLEET BUT LESS THAN ONE PER CENT OF WHICH IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

SHIPS OF HIGH HIGH

"WE WILL ALSO BE LOOKING FOR QUALITY TONNAGE QUALITY AS THERE CANNOT BE ANY COMPROMISE ON OUR CURRENT STANDARDS OF SAFETY, " HE ADDED.

THE REGISTRATION FEE AND ANNUAL CHARGE OF THE NEW HONG KONG REGISTER WOULD BE COMPETITIVE WITH RESPECTED SHIPPING REGISTERS IN THE WORLD.

"THE FEES REFLECT THE HIGH QUALITY OF REGISTRATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED FOR SHIPOWNERS BOTH IN HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS," MR SZE SAID.

HOWEVER, IT

HONG KONG HAS HAD A SHIPPING REGISTER SINCE 1850. IS A PART OF THE BRITISH REGISTER AND THEREFORE CANNOT CONTINUE BEYOND 1997. THUS THE NEED FOR A SEPARATE AND AUTONOMOUS HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER WAS RECOGNISED AND PROVIDED FOR IN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION.

/THE NEW