TNAG-1363-FCO40-1809-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 296

Sir,

Speech by Mr P. Jacobs, Secretary for Economic Services, in Legislative Council on 12 June 1985

Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill 1985

I move that the Merchant Shipping (Amendment)

Bill 1985 be read the second time.

2.

The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Merchant

Shipping Ordinance to make it clear that the Governor may

order the rehearing of an investigation by a Marine Court

into a casualty affecting a ship.

3.

Under Section 56(1) of the principal Ordinance,

the Governor's power to order a rehearing relates

specifically to investigations into the conduct of a

holder of a certificate of competency. There is some

doubt as to whether the Governor may order a rehearing of

an investigation into a casualty affecting a ship even

though the original hearing will usually have touched on

matters concerning the conduct of certificate holders.

Clause 2(a) of the draft Bill makes the position

abundantly clear.

/4. Whilst