XN000022-1991-11-29 — Page 13

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FL 字 NOVEHİR 29,

HONG KONG NEEDS LOCAL MERCHANT NAVY OFFICERS

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HONG KONG NEEDS A STEADY

SUPPLY OF LOCAL MERCHANT NAVY OFFICERS AND SEAMEN TO ENHANCE ITS POSITION AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING MARITIME CENTRES, THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR TONY MILLER, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

HE MADE THIS REMARK WHEN VISITING THE SEAMEN'S TRAINING CENTRE OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL IN TAI LAM CHUNG IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, MR HORACE KNIGHT AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MERCHANT NAVY TRAINING BOARD, MR DAVID C.C. KO0 WERE ALSO PRESENT.

MR MILLER SAID: "FIRSTLY, WE NEED HONG KONG CAPTAINS AND OFFICERS TO MAN HONG KONG-REGISTERED SHIPS TO ADD CREDIBILITY ΤΟ THE HIGH QUALITY AUTONOMOUS HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER.

"SECONDLY, EXPERIENCED MERCHANT NAVY OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED ΤΟ SERVE OUR SHIPPING INDUSTRY INCLUDING CONTAINER TERMINALS AND OTHER PORT FACILITIES.

"THIRDLY, WE IN THE MARINE DEPARTMENT NEED TO BE STAFFED BY LOCAL MARINE OFFICERS AND SURVEYORS WITH RELEVANT SEA-GOING EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS TO ADMINISTER THE PORT OF HONG KONG.

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CONCERTED EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MOUNTED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, SHIPPING INDUSTRY AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS ΤΟ PROMOTE RECRUITMENT OF TRAINEE OFFICERS AND TO STREAMLINE THEIR TRAINING.

THE

INDEED, MR MILLER SAID, WE COULD NOT DEPEND ON OTHER COUNTRIES FOR HELP BECAUSE THERE IS A WORLD-WIDE SHORTAGE OF SEAFARERS.

HONG KONG HAS 5,700 ACTIVE SEAFARERS INCLUDING 1,500 OFFICERS AND THEY SERVE ON BOARD MORE THAN 700 SHIPS OF MANY FLAGS.

MR MILLER SAID THERE WAS WIDE-SPREAD MERCHANT NAVY OFFICERS CAN ONLY GO TO SEA.

MISCONCEPTION

THAT

"THIS IS TOTALLY UNFOUNDED. TRAINING FOR MERCHANT NAVY OFFICERS IS A STEPPING STONE FOR CAREER NOT ONLY AT SEA BUT ALSO ON LAND IN THE MANY SHIPPING AND MARINE RELATED FIELDS. HE SAID.

MR MILLER URGED YOUNG PEOPLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADUATES ΤΟ TAKE UP THE CHALLENGES OF A SEA-GOING CAREER.

ACCOMPANIED BY MR KNIGHT AND MR коо, FIRST-HAND LOOK AT THE PLANS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRE.

MR MILLER HAD A SEAMEN'S TRAINING

/MR MILLER