TNAG-0357-FCO40-393-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 111

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should tread this path ourselves through a relaxation of

safety standards for Hong Kong vessels, simply to allow or

even encourage registry in Hong Kong at a handsome fee.

But I agree that the creation of a separate Hong Kong Shipping

Register could bring some advantages. It would, for instance,

allow the Director of Marine to adopt a more flexible

approach to the conditions of registration.

absolve us from meeting our obligations

But it would not

to

various international safety conventions, such as those

associated with life-saving and radio equipment, fire

appliances, loadline requirements, and the construction of

vessels having regard to structural strength. So far as

these matters are related to safety of life at sea, the

standards agreed to at international level must be maintained

if not improved upon by signatories to the relevant

conventions.

40.

This

My honourable Friend mentioned in particular the

question of manning. The present legal requirements on manning are laid down in the Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Ordinance, which stipulates that all officers should be British nationals with a certificate of Commonwealth validity. legislation is based on the United Kingdom Merchant Shipping Act and the standards required are similar to those applied

to all British ships, that is ships registered in any

Commonwealth country. However, the Director of Marine

already has powers under the Merchant Shipping (Aliens Employment) Ordinance, which provides for aliens to be employed on British ships under certain conditions. exemptions are normally granted only when an alien is in possession of an acceptable certificate of competency in the first instance. If we were to alter our requirements

/ for officer manning

:

Such