TNAG-2308-FCO40-3345-Future-of-Hong-Kong-shipping-register-1991 — Page 226

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It should be possible for undated Certificates of Registry to be sent in advance to a Deputy Registrar abroad to be issued by him on telephone instructions from the Hong Kong Registrar. The only major impediment to this at the present time is the insistence upon the allocation of an official number and the number at the Port of Registry is strict chronological order.

The change of name of a vessel is still a major exercise. Name changes are nearly always required when ownership of a vessel changes and changes of ownership account for nearly all name changes. The change of name of a ship on change of ownership should not require advertisement. Intended owners, instead of the registered owner, should be able to make an application for a change of name, if a change of ownership is contemplated.

At present, a provisional certificate authorising the use by a vessel of British Flag is relatively easy to obtain. Since such authorisation is effective for 6 months or until the vessel calls at a British Port, substandard vessels can be "registered". It is submitted provisional registration should te an actual registration, so that mortgages can be registered. The registration should nonetheless te conditional upon completion of all documents and surveys within a period of say 6 months. If the documents and surveys are not completed, the vessel should be deleted, after an opportunity has been given to the mortgages, if any, to complete the documentation. Full registration charges should be paid on provisional registration.

The requirement for a declaration of ownership should be deleted. The Bill of Sale and the other documents provided to the Registrar by way of evidence of incorporation and entitlement to own a Hong Kong vessel should be sufficient to demonstrate the right to own a particular vessel, although there would be no objection to an affidavit to an officer of a Company evidencing the right of that Company to own any Hong Kong vessel being one of the preliminary documents required in connection with the registration of a vessel.

Much of the documentation which the Marine Department presently insists on before registering the vessel could, without any detriment whatever, be supplied during the period of provisional registry.