XN000022-1994-07-06 — Page 27

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1994

18

BILL TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF SHIPPING PRACTICES

* * *

OF

THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY SEA BILL, WHICH ENSURES CONTINUITY

PRACTICES EXISTING SHIPPING

AND PROVIDES LEGAL CERTAINTY FOR THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY, WILL HELP ENHANCE HONG KONG'S POSITION AS A TRADING AND SHIPPING CENTRE.

MR

THE

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, GORDON SIU, EXPLAINED THAT THE AIM WAS TO IMPLEMENT IN HONG KONG CONVENTION FOR THE UNIFICATION OF CERTAIN RULES OF RELATING TO THE BILLS OF LADING THE BRUSSELS CONVENTION.

INTERNATIONAL

L

LAW

P

THE CONVENTION IS NOW IMPLEMENTED IN HONG KONG BY APPLYING RELEVANT UNITED KINGDOM LEGISLATION TO HONG KONG.

THE

"IT IS,

LEGISLATION TO WILL CONTINUE

HOWEVER, NECESSARY TO ENACT LOCAL REPLACE THE UK ENACTMENTS SO THAT THEIR LEGAL EFFECT AFTER 1997," MR SIU SAID.

LEGISLATION

THIS SYSTEMATIC LOCALISATION OF MERCHANT SHIPPING

ENACTMENT BEEN UNDER WAY FOR SOME YEARS. IT HAS INVOLVED THE HAS

OF AS AND SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION ADDRESSING SUCH ISSUES

MARINE PRIMARY

SHIPPING SAFETY AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLLUTION,

THE HONG KONG

SHIPPING REGISTER.

THE BILL REPLICATES THE PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM LEGISLATION, WITH MODIFICATIONS ONLY WHERE NECESSARY TO CONFORM TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG.

"THE CONTINUED APPLICATION TO HONG KONG OF THE BRUSSELS CONVENTION WILL ENSURE THAT CONTRACTS RELATED TO THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY SEA ARE GOVERNED BY RULES DRAWN UP IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, HE SAID.

++

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

0

LEGCO APPROVES BILL CURBING TAXI LICENCE SPECULATION

A BILL SEEKING то DAMPEN TAXI LICENCE SPECULATION BY RESTRICTING THE TRANSFER OF NEW LICENCES WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE

THE

ROAD TRAFFIC { AMENDMENT} BILL 1994 PROVIDES COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WITH A GENERAL POWER TO IMPOSE A CONDITION ON A TAXI LICENCE PREVENTING THE TRANSFER OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE TAXI WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD AFTER ITS ISSUE.

THE COMMISSIONER WILL SPECIFY THE PERIOD, WHICH IS 12 MONTHS, IN THE TENDER DOCUMENTS FOR THE INFORMATION OF POTENTIAL BIDDERS.

/TO ENSURE