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15.
The Hong Kong Shipowners Association further stressed the effect on the ability or otherwise of many of the less developed, advanced or prosperous countries to sustain these enhanced wages by their work forces from both the public and private sectors. They quoted, as an example, the basic pay of a Gazetted Police Officer in Hong Kong at HK$1550 and a Senior Police Sergeant's pay at between HK$920 to $1200, compared with the existing pay of an Able Seaman at the I.1.0. minimum of $613 and compared again with the I.T.F.'s rate of HK$1350.
16.
The H.K.S.A. further express that the I.T.F.'s Resolution was made without any prior intimation to owners of its intention, discussions or negotiations, which they claim to be the normal procedure adopted by responsible trade unions. They resent being called upon to act as recruiting officers for the I.T.F.'s Special Seafarers' Section and, furthermore, to be called upon not only to pay the employees subscription to the I.T.F. but themselves to subscribe to it.
17.
In looking for a reason for these moves by the I.T.F. at this time, it is pertinent to note that, in Europe, in contrast to the chronic crew shortages of 1970, maritime labour is now a little easier to come by. The depressed state of the shipping industry in 1971 has resulted in the laying up of older ships; new ships are being automated and these factors have contributed to this easing of crew shortages. In Britain it is reported that, in December 1971, there were some 4,000 of the total complement of 52,000 se men out of work, or about 7. In Sweden, the trend is reported of the seagoing labour force diminishing from 25,000 to 15,000 in 10 years. In the United States, the seamen's unions justify their present attempt to boycott British owned flags of convenience vessels by pointing to a fall from 65,000 to 32,000 berths on U.S. ships from 1966 to 1971.
18.
It is also reported that the unions have had to accept the rapid run-down of the labour-intensive liner trades as well as advanced technology in the construction end operation of ships. The only remaining area where the unions can still attack owners is over what they, the unions, describe as 'alien' crews and 'phoney' registrations. Job protection is becoming the first priority of maritime wions and it appears that the International
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