TNAG-0959-FCO40-1178-Shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 42

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7.

The second and third day were held in the Golden Room on the top floor of the Plaza Hotel with reasonable conference facilities and layout. Nevertheless, participants were not provided with any secretarial service or writing materials which they much needed. It is understood that the cancellation of the two days' booking at the Excelsior Hotel cost the ITF some HK$4,000.

8.

Except a provisional agenda and two of the more important papers which had been sent to participants in advance, delegates did not seem to have been informed of the full programme of the Conference.

The Hong Kong Amalgamated Seafarers' Union also complained of the discourtesy of the ITF for not replying to its offer of assistance in conference arrangements and of fitting in an entertainment programme.

9.

Arenda Discussions

There were six items on the provisional agenda

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1.

Flags of Convenience

2.

Crews of Convenience

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3.

4.

Hanpower planning and security of employment

INCO and ILO Standards

5. UNCTAD

6. Any other business.

As expected, the first two items were the main business of the

Conference and were hotly debated upon. Except Australia and New Zealand, which tried to maintain the balance by adopting a slightly pro-ITF stand, and appealing to all Asian delegates for solidarity, all other Asian countries, India and Pakistan were strongly critical of the ITF Campaign

to impose the ITF rate on FOC vessels. They urged the ITF to review its outdated policy and to take account of the 'vastly different political and socio-economic conditions in these countries. They showed apprecia- tion of the good intention of the ITF Campaign but expressed suspicion that the objective of such campaign policy was to protect the vested interests of the trade unions of the developed countries. Facts and figures were cited to illustrate their plight. For example, India claimed to be losing seafaring jobs at the rate of 20,000 each year and the Philippines alleged the interdiction of 59 vessels by the ITF at various ports had cost their seamen 15,000 employment opportunities.

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In