CONFIDENTIAL
055644 MDLIAN 9627
RAISED, THEREBY REDUCING SUBSTANTIALLY THE RISK OF DANGEROUS INCIDENTS AND THEIR POLLUTION OF THE WATERS OF HONG KONG.
PROPOSAL
9. IN VIEW OF THE BENEFITS FOR HONG KONG, THE BRITISH SIDE INTENDS TO EXTEND ANNEX III TO HONG KONG.
10.
THE CHINESE SIDE AGREED AT JLG V ON 26 NOVEMBER 1986 THAT THOSE MARITIME CONVENTIONS ADOPTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION AND OTHER RELATED INTERNATIONAL MARITIME AGREEMENTS WHICH WERE APPLICABLE TO HONG KONG AND WHICH HAD BEEN SIGNED BY THE PRC WOULD AUTOMATICALLY CONTINUE TO APPLY TO HONG KONG. AS FOR THOSE WHICH HAD NOT BEEN SIGNED BY THE PRC, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD IN PRINCIPLE ADOPT MEASURES TO ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO APPLY TO HONG KONG IF THERE IS SUCH A NEED. SINCE THE PRC HAS NOT YET ELECTED TO BE BOUND BY ANNEX III TO THE CONVENTION AND THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF ANNEX III TO HONG KONG WOULD CREATE NEW INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS FOR HONG KONG WHICH ARE INTENDED TO CONTINUE TO APPLY TO HONG KONG SAR AFTER 1997, THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD CONSIDER THIS MATTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREED CONSULTATION GUIDELINES.
Q AND A
Q1: WHAT PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT
ANNEX III, AND WHAT WILL BE THE FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPLICATIONS?
A1:
ANNEX III REQUIRES THE ISSUE OF DETAILED REQUIREMENTS ON SUCH MATTERS AS PACKAGING, LABELLING, DOCUMENTATION, STOWAGE AND NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE CARRIAGE OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCES. THE DETAILED TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME DANGEROUS GOODS CODE (IMDG CODE). LEGISLATION WILL BE INTRODUCED TO OBLIGE HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS AND SHIPPERS TO PACK HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED AND PROVIDE DOCUMENTARY PROOF TO A SHIP'S MASTER AND, ON DEMAND, TO THE ENFORCEMENTS AUTHORITY (I.E. THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE).
UNDER THE CONVENTION, SHIPS OF A PARTY'S FLAG ARE LIABLE TO INSPECTION TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE WITH THE RELEVANT
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