TNAG-1362-FCO40-1808-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 52

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DRAFT SPEECH BY HON S L CHEN, CBE, JP LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 29.5.85

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Pilotage (Amendment) Bill 1985

Any proposal that would efficiently regulate shipping movements and improve safety standards within Hong Kong waters

must be welcomed and supported. The publication of this Bill,

which designed to introduce compulsory pilotage to the port of Hong Kong, has drawn general approvals from virtually all sectors of the maritime community. While I would readily join

them in rendering my support to the principles and spirit of the Bill, I am concerned about its smooth implementation.

The success of this proposal hinges on two important

factors- the standards and the availability of sufficient

qualified pilots to carry out the job. The safety of our port traffic is of paramount importance. Therefore, the present

high standards of the pilots working within Hong Kong waters must be maintained and should not be impaired as a result of

demands generated from compulsory pilotage. To achieve these aims, the training and qualifications of the pilots should not, in any way, be compromised.

Last year, some 11,800 ocean-going vessels called at Hong Kong and discharged more than 31 million tonnes of cargo. On average, ships working cargo at harbour moorings are in port

for two-and-a-half to three days and container ships at the

Kwai Chung terminals remain for about 13 hours. These are

probably the fastest turn-round times for ships at any port in

the Far East. I am sure Members of this Council would be as

anxious as I am to see that the turn-round times of vessels

covered by compulsory pilotage would not be unduly delayed

because of an insufficient supply of qualified pilots. The Government should ensure that adequate supply of qualified

pilots would be made available in the course of phasing in this

compulsory requirement.

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