XN000022-1996-08-08 — Page 4

- 3 -

Studies conducted by the department and a consultant it commissioned, however, showed that first-come-first-served system in PCWAs has led to undesirable practices. Among them is the monopolisation of the berths by a handful of cargo operators.

"The findings are echoed in studies by the Director of Audit, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Police," the spokesman said.

"Under the first-come-first-served system anyone can monopolise a berth as long as they are able to deploy sufficient barges to occupy the berth. By rotating their barges at the berth, they can circumvent the law to prevent monopolisation.

"But the genuine cargo operators stand a better chance to use the facilities if they are operated as fast working berths because hiring a fast working berth is limited to one day.

"We are aware that some genuine cargo operators may need more than a day to work their cargo and so we will continue to discuss with the operators to allow some flexibility to the one-day rule."

The Marine Department intends to bring in new management reform for the nine existing PCWAS to eliminate undesirable practices associated with the first- come-first-served system and to improve the productivity at these facilities.

In essence, the new reform is to lease out the berths at PCWAS by restricted tender under which only the existing operators are eligible to submit their bids.

To enable new comers to join the business, a very small percentage of berths will be leased out by open tender.

End

Seafarers must be re-registered under new law

All Hong Kong seafarers must be re-registered under the new Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance if they want to continue serving in the seafaring profession, a Marine Department spokesman said today (Thursday).

The ordinance, which is to replace the Merchant Shipping (Recruiting of Seamen) Ordinance, will come into operation on September 2.