Post-handover vessel flag issue resolved
Hong Kong and Taiwan have agreed in principle that vessels will not fly any national flag when entering each other's harbours after July 1.
Hong Kong Shipowners Association chairman George Chao Sze-kwong said vessels could fly a different flag such as that of their individual shipowners' association.
He said both sides would fix a meeting date after he returned from a meeting in Australia next week.
Other issues, including documentation vessels will need for entering the harbours, is yet to be resolved.
The Hong Kong delegation, headed by Mr Chao, will include Orient Overseas International Line's executive director Liang Ming-hang, Grand Seatrade Shipping Agencies managing director Andrew Chen, China Merchants Group director general manager of transport Shi Jianxiang and Cosco (Hong Kong) Group's vice-president Captain Du Baoming.
The Taiwan delegation, headed by Chang Liang-jen, secretary-general of the Straits Exchange Foundation, will include Steve Lin, chairman of the Taiwan Cross Strait Shipping Association and Hsieh Ming-huei, head of the Navigation and Aviation Department of Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
