TNAG-0510-FCO40-575-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 8

2

I

CONFI

CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1

DJ C Jones Esq

Colonial Secretariat

HONG KONG

Telephone 01-

Your reference CR 14/5061/70 III

Our reference

HKK 21/3

Date

7 August 1974

dear devth

HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER

1.

REM

REF.

39 )

HKK.

1971-4

In Andrew Stuart's absence on leave, I am writing in reply to your letter of 11 June. I am sorry that we have not been able to let you have our comments sooner but the complex issues involved have required much detailed consideration in consultation with the Department of Trade, whose observations form the basis of this letter. The delay, however, enabled the DOT to take full account of their discussions with the Governor last month in the formulation of their views.

2.

During the Governor's talks in London, it was generally recognised that the task of reaching a compromise which would satisfy the requirements of the Hong Kong shipowners on the one hand and meeting minimum safety standards on the other, was probably not capable of a quick solution. Whilst we certainly understand your problem, and indeed sympathise with the argument in your para. 8, we have to take into account a number of other factors. Regarding the proposal for a written examination, it was clear to the visiting team that no reliance could be placed on the certificates held by many officers manning the ships of Hong Kong owners, since even if they had a bona fide Liberian certificate issued on evidence of a Taiwan certificate, there was no guarantee that the latter was not false. (The Study Team's Report Annex 2; Sections 1.5 and 1.1.12 refer). Hence in the team's view it was essential to conduct a written examination, since an oral examination alone could not fully test basic knowledge. As you know, the team recommended a modified written examination which, in their view, would meet the needs of the situation during the interim period. However, we do consider that the inability to rely on certain foreign certificates is central to the proposals.

3.

You asked in your para. 6 for additional details regarding the written examinations. I therefore attach detailed notes on the modified second mates and first mates examinations and on the engineer examinations. These special examinations are, of course, only regarded by the Department of Trade as a stop gap measure until satisfactory long term training arrangements have been set up in Hong Kong. We note that you are already taking steps to improve the present situation by the introduction of a two-year diploma course for deck cadets commencing in September.

Page

/t.