TNAG-0421-FCO40-467-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 5

CODE 18-07

Page

Reference

169

becretary A & S

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51

www

- 9 JAN 1974

AKK.21/2

C.C.

PS/Minister A & S PO/FUOS A & B

fir, Hlubback Dep Sec fir, Brigstocke SP Mr. Wakefield BOTS Mr. Homan H Mr. Merchant SPP Mr. Gummer SBP Hiss Lackey CRE 3 Hr. Standen MAR 1 Kr. Kadigan KAR 4

Dr. CoxleypEIC (& team) Mrs. Vicks MAR 1

Mr. A. Stuart 3CO✓ #KRIDER.

H. K. 1.3.1S

HONG KONG REGISTER

PA

Over the past two days we have had a full discussion with the team which has just arrived back from Hong Kong. They have done 14. a very good job, had an arduous time and need a break with their families over Christmas, so their report will not be complete until about 10 January. However, drawing upon their views, we are now in a position to outline proposals for establishing a separate register which, while they do not go as far as the Hong Kong shipowners and Government would like, are, I think, defensible both with them and with the seafaring interests in this country.

Certification of Officers

2. The team was asked to assess the feasibility of granting Hong Long certificates below Master level to aliens on the basis of foreign certificates held, previous training and experience and an interview to assess their ability in spoken English and technical consetence. They interviewed over 40 officers serving on Hong Kong ships of whom about half were found to be up to standard in terms of practical knowledge and experience. However, they lacked the general education and knowledge of basic principles normally required of British officers; the latter can be vital in emergency situations, A particular problem was that many of the certificates held e.g. Liberian and Taiwan, had been obtained by dubious means and some officers had never taken an examination. The sample of Mr. Fau's officers intervicowed was too small to reach a reliable judgement and arrangements are being made to interview more of then in Europe but it is significant that he employs British Officers almost exclusively on his VLCC's.

3. We have come to the conclusion that it would be most unsatisfacte ory to rely on an interview alone for granting Hong Kong certificates to aliens. Instoad wo envisage sotting special examinations, possibly in Chinese, at levels below Master. The examination, would call for less basic theoretical knowledge but more practical experience than the normal DTI examinations but would require an overall performance comparable to that exposted of a successful candidate in our exminations. These arranger nts would be agreed for a period of roars during which tins Hong Kong would be expected to develop ita entry and training arrangements on lines equivalent to

cont'a