>Press Releases Home > Publications and press releases > Press Releases Cross Border Talks to Enhance Maritime Safety Following is a story in Issue No.2 of Hong Kong Maritime News published by the Marine Department in September 2000: Cross Border Relations Strengthen in Talks with Guangdong The marine chiefs of Hong Kong and Guangdong have concluded another round of talks aimed at improving maritime safety in the Pearl River delta region. Held in the southern Chinese province, the meeting looked at the policy, procedures, safety and management facing Guangdong and Hong Kong local vessels which are trading in the busy Pearl River estuary and the Guangdong coastal waterways. These important meetings have been held twice a year since 1998 and the most recent were attended by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's Marine Department Director, Tsui Shung-yiu, and the Harbour Superintendence Bureau (HSB) Director of Guangdong Province, Lu Jinjin. The talks resulted in some major progress for the shipping industry as a whole. The introduction of the Nationality Certificate and Ship Inspection Certificate by the HSB, for instance, will enable the Marine Department's harbour patrol officers to deal with suspected forged documents when they conduct certificate inspections on board coastal vessels. Both parties also exchanged material relating to the technical requirements needed for lifting appliances. The Marine Department has forwarded a Code of Practice, which stipulates compulsory training for all operators and workers engaged in container handling operations. Mr Tsui and Mr Lu agreed that all Guangdong licensed ships, even those below 300 gross registered tonnage, will have to be fitted with a VHF radio to enhance safety and rescue response time in the event of an emergency. Other topics which were discussed during the day-long meeting included the manning requirements for Hong Kong vessels plying their trade in the Pearl River; the arrangement for port clearance reporting for convention and non-convention ships; marine accidents in Hong Kong waters involving Guangdong ships; and third party insurance for non-convention ships. Wednesday, 20 September 2000
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