7.—(1) The Director may by order cancel the registration of a surveyor or suspend him from carrying out any survey of any ship for a period not exceeding one year —
(a)
if he is satisfied that the organisation —
(i)
has ceased to be an organisation approved by the Minister pursuant to section 137 or 223 of the Act; or
(ii)
has made any misrepresentation, whether innocent or otherwise, or has failed to disclose any fact at the time of applying for registration and such misrepresentation or non-disclosure would have influenced the decision of the Director to grant or refuse to grant registration;
(b)
if he is of the opinion that the surveyor in respect of whom registration has been granted is no longer a fit and proper person to be a surveyor of or to carry out any survey of any ship; or
(c)
if he considers it in the public interest to do so.
(2) The Director shall before cancelling any registration or suspending any surveyor under paragraph (1) give the organisation concerned notice in writing of his intention to do so, specifying a date, not less than 21 days after the date of the notice, upon which the cancellation or suspension shall take effect and calling upon the organisation concerned to show cause to the Director why the registration should not be cancelled or why the surveyor should not be suspended.
(3) When the Director has cancelled the registration of a surveyor or has suspended any surveyor under paragraph (1), he shall forthwith inform the organisation concerned by notice in writing of the cancellation or suspension.
(4) The organisation may, within 14 days of the receipt of the notice referred to in paragraph (3), or within such extended period of time as the Minister may allow, appeal in writing against the cancellation or suspension to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
(5) An order of cancellation or suspension shall not take effect until the expiration of a period of 14 days after the Director has informed the organisation concerned of the order.
(6) If within that period the organisation concerned appeals to the Minister, the order shall not take effect unless the order is confirmed by the Minister or the appeal is for any reason dismissed by the Minister, or the appeal is withdrawn.