XN000022-1993-11-11 — Page 17

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11,

1993

LORD CAITHNESS, WHO GAVE A KEYNOTE SPEECH ON PORT STATE CONTROL ΤΟ THE 18TH ASSEMBLY OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION IN LONDON LAST MONTH, WAS GIVEN A DETAILED BRIEFING OF THE EFFORTS OF MARINE DEPARTMENT IN THIS AREA.

"MARINE DEPARTMENT PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN ELIMINATING SUBSTANDARD SHIPS THROUGH INSPECTIONS OF VESSELS THAT CALL ON OUR PORT, MR PYRKE SAID.

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"THESE INSPECTIONS ARE OVER AND ABOVE THOSE CONDUCTED BY FLAG STATE AUTHORITIES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF SHIPS THAT FLY THEIR FLAG, HE ADDED.

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LORD CAITHNESS WAS ADVISED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE WOULD REPRESENT HONG KONG AT A MEETING IN TOKYO LATER THIS MONTH TO FINALISE THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON PORT STATE CONTROL.

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"IT IS HOPED THAT THE MEETING WOULD LEAD TO THE SIGNING OF MEMORANDUM BY MARINE ADMINISTRATIONS FROM AUSTRALIA, CANADA,

CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, NEW ZEALAND AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION SETTING A FUTURE TARGET ON JOINT PORT STATE CONTROL INSPECTIONS," MR PYRKE SAID.

"THE AIM IS BY THE YEAR 2000, 75 PER CENT OF ALL OCEAN-GOING SHIPS VISITING THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION WILL UNDERGO A PORT STATE CONTROL INSPECTION ONCE A YEAR, HE ADDED,

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LATER IN THE MORNING, LORD CAITHNESS, ACCOMPANIED BY MR PYRKE AND MR CLARK, TOURED THE HARBOUR TO SEE STONECUTTERS ISLAND, WHERE THE NEW GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD IS BEING BUILT, THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION SITES, THE CONTAINER TERMINALS IN KWAI CHUNG, AND THE TSING MA BRIDGE.

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NT LEADERS' CONTRIBUTION IMPORTANT TO STABILITY

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THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR ALBERT с с LAM, PRAISED NEW TERRITORIES COMMUNITY LEADERS, MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND DISTRICT BOARDS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF THE TERRITORY.

SPEAKING AT A DINNER WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TONIGHT (THURSDAY), MR LAM ALSO COMMENDED VARIOUS RURAL ORGANISATIONS AND CHARITABLE BODIES FOR THEIR MULTIFARIOUS SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE.

HE HOPED THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

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GUESTS PRESENT AT THE DINNER INCLUDED CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG KUK, MR LAU WONG-FAT; CHAIRMAN OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG; LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS AND CHAIRMEN OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS.

MR LAM WILL BECOME THE NEW DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES NEXT TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 16).

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