*******************************************************
Last year alone, the Register of Fishing Vessel (RFV) of the People's Republic of China conducted surveys for 100 fishing vessels licensed in Hong Kong.
To provide convenient and high-standard vessel surveying services to Hong Kong fishermen at lower fees, and to ensure their craft comply with the safety standards, since 2007 the Marine Department has authorised the RFV to carry out in China surveys of Hong Kong's locally licensed fishing vessels.
In addition, the Guangdong RFV, the Fujian RFV and Zhejiang RFV have also become working partners of the Marine Department.
Last year, there were five locally licensed Hong Kong fishing vessels built in Xiamen, Fujian, and in Ningbo, Zhejiang. These vessels were then surveyed by surveyors of the two RFVs as well as Marine Department staff.
To enrich the knowledge and techniques of Mainland surveyors in surveying Hong Kong's locally licensed fishing vessels, the Marine Department is holding a technique exchange meeting in Hong Kong from today (December 12) to Wednesday.
Speaking at the start of the meeting, the Director of Marine, Mr Francis Liu, said that the authorisation for surveys in recent years has been effective with good results, registering a substantial increase in the number of surveys conducted. He hoped both sides could further develop a co-operative relationship based on the sound foundation.
He said that the authorisation for surveys has been progressing smoothly. However, to improve the work so as to guarantee the safe construction and operation of Hong Kong's locally licensed fishing vessels, the RFV and the Marine Department at their sixth regular meeting in September in Thousand Island Lake, Hangzhou, agreed that the Marine Department would organise an exchange meeting.
He added that he believed, through this exchange meeting, Mainland surveyors could deepen their understanding of Hong Kong's Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance, the regime of surveys for local fishing vessels, the authorisation of surveyors or authorities for surveys, the requirements for plans and their approval, and the regulations regarding initial and periodical surveys of fishing vessels, the aim of which is to optimise the authorisation for surveys of Hong Kong's locally licensed fishing vessels.
Those attending the exchange meeting included the Director-General of the RFV, Mr Liu Zheng, and 27 RFV surveyors.
Ends/Monday, December 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:23
NNNN
