Marine chief hits back
DIRECTOR of Marine Ian Dale yesterday accused some of his surveyors of being narrow-minded in criticisms of the department's new qualification requirements, which they claim will affect safety.
The Marine Department's Local Professional Officers' Association said this week that the standards required to become surveyors had dropped, mainly because qualification from countries outside the Commonwealth were to be accepted.
But Mr Dale said the changes were part of a management initiative that would allow the department to recruit required staff.
'Levels of safety are based on international convention requirements, and staff must meet those standards,' he said.
'An academic qualification alone is not the way to ensure this is achieved. Experience and in-house training are as important.' 'I am sorry that a small number of my staff seem to be taking a narrow view of the department's future development,' he said.
The association said there were enough surveyors in Hong Kong without having to look elsewhere.
