XN000022-1994-11-30 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1994

THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES WILL BE THE TRUSTEE THE OF THE FUND, AND A TRUST FUND COMMITTEE WILL BE SET UP TO MANAGE FUND. TO ADVISE ON THE INVESTMENT OF THE FUND, I WILL APPOINT AN INVESTMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

MR PRESIDENT, FOR PRISONERS, EDUCATION IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR REHABILITATION AND EVENTUAL REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY. I THEREFORE COMMEND THIS BILL TO THE COUNCIL.

MERCHANT SHIPPING (SEAFARERS) BILL

FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR GORDON SIU, IN MOVING THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (SEAFARERS) BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

MR PRESIDENT,

I MOVE THAT THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (SEAFARERS) BILL BE READ A SECOND TIME.

THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO

(A)

LOCALISE THOSE ITEMS OF UK MERCHANT SHIPPING WHICH APPLY TO HONG KONG; AND

LEGISLATION

(B) TO CONSOLIDATE EXISTING HONG KONG LEGISLATION WHICH

REGULATES SEAFARERS,

THE EMPLOYMENT

AND CONDITIONS OF WORK OF

INTO ONE SINGLE ENACTMENT. THIS IS PART OF AN ON-GOING LOCALISATION OF LAWS EXERCISE WHICH AIMS TO ENSURE THAT THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF LAWS WILL CONTINUE AFTER 1997. THE SYSTEMATIC LOCALISATION OF MERCHANT SHIPPING LEGISLATION HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR SOME YEARS. THE PROCESS INVOLVES THE ENACTMENT OF PRIMARY AND SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION ADDRESSING SUCH ISSUES AS MARINE POLLUTION, SHIPPING SAFETY AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER.

THE SEAFARERS BILL IS IN 15 PARTS. IT IS DRAWN UP WITH THE VIEW TO ACHIEVING FOUR OBJECTIVES

(A)

(B)

(C)

-

IT CONSOLIDATES EXISTING HONG KONG LAWS RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT AND CONDITIONS OF WORK OF SEAFARERS, INCLUDING THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (RECRUITMENT OF SEAMEN) ORDINANCE;

IT REPEALS CERTAIN UK ENACTMENTS WHICH APPLY TO HONG KONG, IN PARTICULAR, THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (HONG KONG) ORDER 1936, AND OTHER RELATED STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS;

IT PROVIDES POWERS TO MAKE, IN HONG KONG, REGULATIONS EQUIVALENT TO THOSE MADE UNDER THE UK MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 1970; AND

/(D) IT MODERNISES