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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 6(1) and (2). Entry into the territory. The Committee notes that according to the Government’s report, as long as the seafarer has valid “seamen’s documents” and the vessel meets entry requirements, permission to stay would be granted for the length of time the vessel is required to be in port. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the legal provisions guaranteeing that effect is given to this Article of the Convention.

The Committee also requests the Government to supply in its next report a copy of the national laws or regulations giving effect to the Convention, including Immigration Ordinance Chapter 76, Volume I, 1957, as well as a specimen of the seafarer’s identity document. It also requests the Government to indicate, in more detail and with reference to relevant legislation, measures taken to give effect to Articles 1(1), 3, 5 and 6(3) of the Convention.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply up-to-date information concerning the practical application of the Convention, including, for example, information concerning the number of seafarer’s identity documents issued and any difficulties encountered in the application of the Convention.

The Committee again draws the Government’s attention to the entry into force of the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185). It requests the Government to indicate whether it is giving consideration to ratifying this instrument, in order to bring the seafarer’s identity documents in line with the requirements of this Convention and to minimize possible problems when requesting shore leave, transit, etc.