TNAG-0357-FCO40-393-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 75

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with Wallen and Company Ltd., called on the General Secretary of the I.T.F.

in London in April to discuss the matter as it affects shipowners, particularly

beneficial owners in Hong Kong. It appears that, from this mecting, those

gentlemen gained the impression that the General Secretary of the I.T.F.

meant business and intended to see the I.T.F. Resolution on the employment of

crews of convenience was carried out.

12.

At a meeting with Marine Department Officials (the Superintendent

of the Seamen's Recruiting Office/Mercantile Marine Office) on the 3rd May

1972, the representatives of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, together

with their legal representative, indicated their intention to seek the Hong

Kong Government's support by backing the Association in its endeavours to

find a solution to the problem they are faced with, whereby there is at

present no suitable union in Hong Kong with whom to negotiate a labour agreement

as required by the I.T.F. They expressed the views that failure to find a

solution could be serious to the shipping industry in Hong Kong.

13.

The problem faced by the H.K. Shipowners Association can be

summarised thus :-

Since their members operate, so far as the I.T.F. is concerned,

flag of convenience vessels manned by crews of convenience

(recruited in Hong Kong), they are required by the I.T.F. to fulfill certain conditions, namely :-

(i)

Owners must sign an agreement with the I.T.F. relating

to conditions of service for crews of convenience.

N.B.

This I.T.F. agreement is based on that negotiated

between the British Shipping Federation Ltd. and

the U.K.'s National Union of Seamen within the

U.K.'s National Maritime Board. It appears U.K.

seafarers' conditions have been adopted as being

the lowest, so far as wages are concerned, 'in

north European maritime countries. The wages and

overtime allowances specified in this I.T.F.

...../5.

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