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The owner of the fishing vessel Kai Fung No.2 attended an interview at the Marine Department this afternoon (September 27). The purpose of the interview was to seek more information for the Director of Marine to consider the owner's request for the withdrawal of the direction issued by the Director on September 21, 2010 refusing permission for Kai Fung No. 2 to leave Hong Kong waters. The direction was issued under Section 64(1)(a) of the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance (Cap 548).
Under the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Certification and Licensing) Regulation (Cap 548D), Kai Fung No.2 is certificated as Class III vessel. In accordance with Sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Regulation, Class III vessels are not permitted to carry passengers and shall be used exclusively for fishing and fishing related purposes. In this connection, the Marine Department when issuing the direction had grounds to believe that the vessel would be used in contravention of the said provisions.
After the interview, the spokesman for the department said the Director of Marine had given Kai Fung No.2 similar direction on May 1, 2009. The vessel owner filed an application for judicial review to the High Court and the application was dismissed with no appeal by the owner.
Ends/Monday, September 27, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:25
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