Sessional_Paper_1932 — Page 53

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6. The Government Marine Surveyor's Department shows the most notable increase in personnel. In 1923 the authorised establishment of European Surveyors was four-in 1925 it was increased to six, in 1927 to eight, and it is now fourteen. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, understaffing. Witnesses both from the department itself and from shipping firms stated that the work in former years was 'skimpily' done. Secondly, the desire of the Hong Kong Government to obtain for its passenger certificates world wide recognition, which could only be secured through prior recognition by the Board of Trade. A representative of the Board of Trade was sent out from England at the request of the Hong Kong Government and as a result of his recommendations, published as Sessional Paper No. 5 of 1927, an increase in surveyors from eight to fourteen was authorised. It should here be remarked that for general purposes there are three classes of Passenger Certificate issued; Class III for river steamers, Class I for coastal trade and Class IA for world wide trade. It was recognition of the last that was sought. When the Board of Trade's representative was in the Colony he expressly stated that the Board was not concerned with the Hong Kong Class I and Class III certificates. The increase of six surveyors was therefore prima facie for Class IA survey work.

7. In 1930 ten ships were surveyed for this class of certificate and the fees collected by Government in respect thereof were $13,000. There seems to be small prospect of any marked increase in the future in the number of ships taking out Class IA certificates. To maintain an additional six European surveyors for ten ships would be the height of extravagance. But in fact the six surveyors were not wholly for the IA certificate survey work.

8. At the time when the Board of Trade's representative was making his investiga- tions the Harbour Master considered that his staff of eight surveyors was insufficient for the ordinary work of the department. The Board's representative included in his re- commendations extra staff sufficient to cover the requirements of the Harbour Master, fearing that if this were not done, the extra surveyors engaged primarily for 1A certi- ficate work would be taken from this work and employed on the ordinary work of the department.

9. The Commissioners consider that the Harbour Master was wrong in his estimate of the staff requirements of the Government Marine Surveyor's department; and that as a result of his wishes having been met the department is now overstaffed. The Commis- sioners do not advocate the abandonment of the IA certificate, but they are of the opinion -after having heard expert evidence of a number of witnesses both from the Govern- ment Marine Surveyor's staff and private shipping and surveyor's' firmis,-that a reduction can safely be made from fourteen surveyors to ten without the efficient carrying out of the surveys of ships for IA certificates being in anv way jeopardised. The posts of Draughtsman and two Tapemen should also be abolished."

10. It was said in the opening paragraph that too rigorous regulations may dis- courage shipping from using this port. An instance of this occurs in the case of surveys of coastal ships. Hong Kong has as yet no regulations of its own for these.--for the promulgation of which provision is made in section 10 (6) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance. Draft regulations have been drawn up and are being considered by the Marine- Surveyor's department. Meanwhile however an attempt is being made to raise the standard required of coastal ships to that required by the Board of Trade at home. Were- the Marine Surveyor's Department not over-staffed it is probable that this would not have occurred. Publication of the Hong Kong Regulations should be made as soon as: possible.

11. The work of the Marine Surveyor's Department could be lightened by having annual instead of bi-annual surveys in the case of non-passenger carrying launches,- with the right reserved to the Government Marine Surveyor to examine a launch at any time should he have grounds for considering this to be necessary. Also Government might at its discretion grant recognition to certificates issued by firms of private surveyors in respect of launch surveys.

12. The Commissioners were struck by the inadequate scale of the fees charged for ship surveys of various kinds. Whilst they do not consider that it should be the policy. of Government to make a profit out of the Government Marine Surveyor's department, they do consider that the fees charged should bear some relation to the cost of running the department. With this recommendation it is understood the Harbour Master agrees.