Press Releases

Fishermen deckhands scheme revised
Monday, June 11, 1999

The Government has revised the Mainland Fishermen Deckhands Scheme to benefit more operators of fishing vessels and fish transportation vessels operating predominantly outside Hong Kong waters.

A Government spokesman said today (Friday) that the new arrangements of the scheme, approved by the Chief Executive in Council, would alleviate the manpower shortage of operators of fishing vessels and fish transportation vessels in unloading their catches in local wholesale fish markets and help maintain a steady supply of fresh marine fish to Hong Kong.

He said: "The revised scheme will benefit those smaller fishing vessels and fish transportation vessels of not less than 10 metres in length operating predominantly outside Hong Kong waters, which have similar difficulties in recruiting deckhands locally as those fishing vessels making extended trips outside Hong Kong waters.

"Following careful consideration of the operators' manpower requirements, the deckhand quota has been increased from 5,500 to 7,200 to meet their needs to land catches at local wholesale fish markets," he said.

The scheme was introduced in 1995 and subsequently revised in 1997 to cover fishing vessels of not less than 20 metres in length or with an engine power of not less than 200 horsepower, habitually engaged in fishing outside Hong Kong waters for three days or more at a time.

The deckhand scheme enables the smooth operation of Hong Kong's fishing fleet operating predominantly outside Hong Kong waters without compromising immigration control over the entry of mainland deckhands.

Views of the fishing community had been taken into consideration in drawing up the revised scheme.

A multiple journey entry permit valid for one year and good for a stay of up to seven days on each landing would be issued to a successful recruit stipulating that the holder should be engaged solely in the operation of specified vessel at all times and may travel only between that vessel and not more than two wholesale fish markets named by the vessel operator.

The spokesman said: "Following the existing arrangements, the master will be required to report his vessel's arrival and the number of mainland deckhands on board to the Harbour Control Section of the Immigration Department within three hours of arrival and to present his deckhand list and their travel documents within 24 hours for immigration clearance.

"This arrangement will allow Hong Kong-based fishing vessels and fish transportation vessels to proceed directly to the wholesale fish markets with their employed deckhands without going through clearance procedures at the immigration anchorages.

"Similar documentary procedures should be followed on departure," he said.

The spokesman pointed out that Hong Kong-based fishing vessels and fish transportation vessels played an important role in the supply of fresh fish to Hong Kong accounting for about 60 per cent of the fresh marine fish consumed.

Application forms are now obtainable from the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) and the Immigration Department. Completed forms should be submitted to the AFD.

Enquiries about the revised scheme may be directed to the Agriculture and Fisheries Department on telephone 2733 2194 or to the Immigration Department on 2534 7117.