(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(b)
CONFIDENTIAL
5.
His alternative is to carry flags of
convenience which is his present practice.
In the long term (5 years plus)
It would be possible to create a Hong Kong register
by local statute. This could not be entirely autonomous as we would still be legally bound by U.K. international agreements. It would be more convenient but not necessarily cheaper for the shipowner.
My
I estimate five years to be the time it takes to introduce a new principle involving policy at Governor-in-Council level, and a new ordinance. pilotage bill has taken much longer than that and has still not been laid before Executive Council.
Attempts are being made internationally by IMCO and ILO to develop internationally acceptable standards of training and competency of officers. The trend at the moment in the light of the spate of strandings is to look more closely at the system of certification and supporting standards applied by the flag states whose ships have been involved. There is little likelihood of Hong Kong giving general acceptance to certificates of competency issued outside the Commonwealth for many years.
Mr. Pao's suggestion that surveys should be carried out by classification societies offers no obvious benefits to him. The duty of surveyors is to apply the rules set by the flag of registry.
18th October, 1971.
CONFIDENTIAL
Kmee
(K. Milburn)
Director of Marine.
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Private notes are available after approval.