TNAG-0421-FCO40-467-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 68

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10.

The concern of the U.K. Unions that the new arrangements will open A back door to the certification of British subjects is very understandable. The Chinese candidates interviewed are eligible to sit the D.T.I. Examination and several of them have already attempted the D.T.I. Second Class Maminativ with varying success, One of the candidates for Chief Engineer was already the holder of a D.T.I. Second Class certificate, another had passed all of the Second Class Certificate except the examination in engineering knowledge (1.8. the practical part) and another had failed Part A of the Second Class Certification examination completely. The Team will formulate safeguards to prevent the abuse of the new system by Eritish subjects who could have

qualified in the normal way.

11.

The next step in progressing the results of the oral examinations is under consideration. On the engineering side some of the candidates are Euitable for some types of vessels, but unsuitable for an unlimited respon-

sibility.

NOTE ON TRAINING OF OFFICERS

The Hong Kong shipowners have no uniform plan for training of deck and engineer officers. They have not anticipated their own needs and are presented with a situation in which tried and trusted fitter and operator type enginsers are now unsuitable for the modern vessels being built and operated by the Hong Kong Owners, The Team'e visit has given en impotus towards a solution to this problem which has been welcomed by the Director of Marine, the

Polytechnic and the owners. In fact, the Team have been specifically requested to attend a further meeting during our final week in Hong Kong to disouss the training of officers in both the long and short term.

RATINGS

12.

Muci discussion has taken place on the question of Hong Kong seamen, Hong Kong crews are understood to be unreliable and the rate of desertion is Baid to be the highest in the world. It appears that the larger shipowners

do not have as much trouble with crews as the single shipowners have,

The

latter pay extremely low wages.

13.

The Team have examined establishments for the training of ratings

and a report is attached at

The Hong Kong Seamen's Recruiting

office have already taken steps to stop the practice of payments to boatswaine

in order that a seaman might obtain employment,

/SHAFARENG UNIONS .....