TNAG-0323-FCO40-359-Legislation-for-merchant-shipping-registered-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 19

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but they doubt whether the changes will necessarily go as far

as Mr Pao has suggested, namely complete relaxation.

3. As to the acceptance of foreign nationals who hold what

Mr Pao has described as "equivalent national qualifications"

it is extremely difficult to make a realistic comparison of

the standards of training and competency as between the

systems applied in different countries. Within the Commonwealth,

with standards and examination arrangements modelled closely on

the UK pattern, a system has developed in which there is

reciprocal recognition and acceptance of the certificates of

competency issued by member countries. Attempts have been made

and are still being made internationally by Inter-governmental

Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO) and International

Labour Office (ILO) to develop internationally acceptable

standards in this sphere but progress along this path is not

easy. The whole trend at present, in the light of the spate

of strandings and collisions in English Channel and elsewhere,

is to look more closely at the systems of certification and

supporting standards applied by the flag States whose ships have

been involved. To sum up therefore, much consideration is

being given both nationally and internationally to manning

standards and certification and changes will undoubtedly follow -

but not in the short term.

4. In his letter to Mr Pao of 5 May, the Director of Marine

made it quite clear that he had been given powers under the

Merchant Shipping (Aliens Employment) Ordinance to enable aliens

to be employed in British shipping. In spite of what Mr Pao has

said the DTI agree that the problems of operating under the

British flag occasioned by shortages of qualified officers

could be alleviated by the judicious use of the Director's

2 -

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