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Bill to streamline adaptation of shipping conventions
The Government is introducing the Merchant Shipping (Safety)(Amendment) Bill 1996 to streamline the adaptation of international conventions on shipping safety to local legislation, a Marine Department spokesman said today (Wednesday).
At present, these internationally accepted standards are implemented in Hong Kong by regulations made by the Governor in Council under the Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance.
The provisions of the International Maritime Organisation conventions, which are accepted world-wide as international standards by the shipping industry, is regulated by the Organisation.
"Most of those matters are highly technical in nature and, as such, are subject to regular amendment. Updating the legislation as a result of these amendments adds to the workload of the Executive Council as well as the Law Drafting Division of the Attorney General's Chambers," the spokesman said.
"Moreover, failure to implement international obligations in a timely manner adversely reflects on the credibility of Hong Kong within the international shipping community," he said.
The Bill seeks to transfer the regulation-making powers, except those pertaining to courts of surveys and to fees, from the Governor in Council to the Secretary for Economic Services.
It also provides that any international agreement applicable to Hong Kong, and relating to any matter in respect of which regulations may be made under the Ordinance, can be given effect by being set out in regulations or schedules together with provisions specifying the amendments, modifications or adaptations subject to which the agreements as so set out shall have effect.
Consequently the Merchant Shipping Ordinance will be amended to state explicitly that fees in respect of surveys under the Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance can be prescribed in regulations made under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance.
The Bill will be gazetted this Friday (April 12) and will be presented to the Legislative Council on April 24.
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