Flag proposal worries Hong Kong officers
BY A STAFF REPORTER
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This is simply not enough," said Captain Roe.
HONG KONG Merchant Navy officers, faced with what would appear to be the imminent creation of an autono- He believed that Hong Kong needed mous shipping registry, are worried a bigger polytechnic to undertake train- about the possibility that the colony ing and revealed that he had discussed will become av base for flag of con- venience operators.
In particular, they are demanding that training facilities be improved.
Captain J. S. Roe, general secretary of the Merchant Navy Officers' Guild- Hong Kong, is coming to London on Oct. 1 for consultation on the Hong Kong registry issue with British officers' associations.
"I would like to go to London for consultations feeling convinced that Hong Kong is not going to become another flag of convenience for un- scrupulous shipowners," said Captain Roe.
this possibility with Captain G. W. Wakeford, the Government consultant, late of Southampton University.
These talks should result in the Hong Kong polytechnic "becoming something comparable with the Southampton establishment."
Captain Roe will be meeting with the Officers' (Merchant Navy): Federation and the Merchant Navy & Airline Officers' Association on his visit to London.
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The idea of a separate Hong Kong registry has been in the air for some time and reports last week indicated that a breakthrough had been achieved in talks between Hong Kong, and the British Government. are According to the reports a com- promise solution had been reached under which ships registered in the colony. would be able to sail with a British - master in command of non-British officers."
He alleged that some Hong Kong shipowners with entire disregard for the safety of their ships at sea employing totally unqualified officers who sail with bogus certificates of com- petency under flags of convenience.
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Any ordinary seaman or steward can obtain these bogus certificates which are suspected to have been. The Department of Trade and printed in Hong Kong," Captain Roe Industry in London was unable to said.
confirm or deny these reports. He added that the Hong Kong Although the DTI has stressed- that Marine Department was doing its best the creation of a Hong Kong flag would to stamp out such practices and ex- not affect standards, officers in Britain pressed the hope that help would be are not so sure. forthcoming from the police force.
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Mr John Salter, general secretary of
The crux of the matter, according the MNAOA, has described the idea to Captain Roe, was the question of as "odious." training.
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fall in
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'If the respon-
He is convinced that a "The Hong Kong Government, standards will be inevitable. through lack of finance, has not been British Government, who are able to provide pre-sea training," Cap- sible for Hong Kong, are going to be tain Roe said. The shipping industry, party in any shape or form to something in general, had given no support "with which is going to lower standards, this the exception of well-established. is iniquitous," Mr Slater told LLOYD'S
owners.
LIST last week.
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