TNAG-1314-FCO40-1696-Working-papers-for-use-at-talks-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 33

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26. One feature of the current arrangements for the

registration of fishing vessels to which some owners attach

importance particularly in Scotland is the personal contact

available with registrars at ports of registry. They said,

in the previous round of consultations, that this contact

ensures them a fast and reliable registration service and

enables expert advice to be obtained from registrars when

necessary. The Government believes that a central register

including fishing vessels can operate as quickly and reliably,

as the present system, and at less cost to the taxpayer.

Nevertheless the Department of Transport will co-operate closely

with the Fisheries Departments and Fishermen's organisations to

ensure that the new system is adapted to meet the requirements

of fishing boat owners as far as possible. In Scotland the

Fisheries Inspectorate of the Department of Agriculture and

Fisheries will be prepared to help fishermen with registration

applications in any case of serious difficulty. Arrangements

will continue to be made throughout the country for officials

to measure fishing vessels for tonnage and to certify the

marking of vessels.

VI

THE UNITED KINGDOM AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR THE BRITISH SHIP REGISTER

The present position

27.

Under the 1894 Act all ports of registry in the UK

and British possessions have the same status. They can register

any size or type of ship, provided that it meets the ownership

qualifications, namely that it is owned by British subjects

....