TNAG-0323-FCO40-359-Legislation-for-merchant-shipping-registered-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 93

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

6.

Hong Kong legislation is applicable elsewhere

in the world in so far as it affects officers under

exemption.

Current

^

Only when an exemption expires might there

be any difficulty and this could probably be overcome

quite easily if Hong Kong were prepared to inform

Commonwealth Governments (and therefore British

Consulates) that, until more permanent arrangements

could be introduced, it was Government policy to grant

exemptions in certain circumstances to non-British

nationals providing reference was first made to the

Director of Marine, Hong Kong.

B

"Temporary exemption from time to time is far

from being a satisfactory solution especially

as even when available it is not always the

most conscientious and competent British master

or officer who finds himself in Hong Kong

seeking employment."

7. This is a guarded reference to the existence of a

few British masters who are employed by some shipping

lines more for their possession of British certificates

than for their sobriety and ability. No serious

problem arises from this unfortunate fact since

Mr Milburn will be aware of it and can use his

discretion accordingly.

C

11

if in other Commonwealth ports we

face the risk of being obliged to take on

officers there who claim the right to be

employed in preference to our temporary non-

British officers."

Officers and 8. If British Masters, Mates, Chief alle pirot

Engineers are, as Mr Pao has stated elsewhere, in

world-wide short supply, there is unlikely to be a

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