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the Merchant Shipping Ordinance and Regulations, Cap. 281, which legislation is administered by the Director of Marine. I am satisfied that the Marine Department has this matter under control and needs no instigation from me.
The fifth part of the question asks whether the department has approached shipping companies and agencies to prevent the indiscriminate discharge of oil-contaminated ballast. The answer is again "No": the matter is already covered by the "Oil in Navigable Waters Act" to which I referred in my reply to the first part of this question, and I am happy to leave this matter in the capable hands of the Marine Department.
The sixth part of the question asks what account is taken of tidal flow in dealing with oil pollution. Tidal flow and wind direction are taken into account by all concerned in an attempt to anticipate where any slicks of oil sighted at sea may drift to land. In general, in the event of an accident involving a laden oil tanker in Hong Kong waters, it is almost certain that the resulting oil spill would be carried by tidal streams to create a possible hazard to the swimming areas. The main tidal streams flow and ebb to and from the Pearl River via Kap Shui Mun and Rambler Channel through Hong Kong Harbour and the East and West Lamma Channels. Hence, the swimming areas which are most likely to be affected are the beaches along Castle Peak Road, and those on Lamma Island, Cheung Chau and Lantau.
The seventh part of the question is concerned with the cost of clearing oil beaches. The direct cost to the Urban Services Department last year was approximately $43,000 and, this year, so far, $4,900.
The final part of this question asks whether measures have been recommended by the committee appointed to study the question of oil pollution. As stated in my reply to Mr. FORSGATE's question last year, the measures envisaged by the Committee in question were:
(i) the delineation of routes for oil-tankers; (ii) the provision of booms and emulsifiers to contain and disperse oil spillage;
(iii) the demarcation of the Colony's waters into zones for storage purposes;
(iv) the introduction of V.H.F. radio communication.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The various reports, which have been prepared in the Marine Department on this subject have not been published nor is it intended at the present time, that they should be, but many of the practical matters that have occupied the attention of members of the Ad Hoc Committee have been incorporated in the Code of Practice; Members of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee have received copies of the part of the Code of Practice that deals with the land aspects in which the Urban Services Department is directly and operationally concerned, and I can certainly arrange for members to receive a complete copy of this Code if they so wish. It must be stressed, however, that this is very much a working document which is subject to amendment in the light of further experience, derived from operations here and in other parts of the world, to meet the problem of oil pollution of the sea-waters close to land and of the shore.
MR. SALES—Mr. Chairman, may I thank you for this comprehensive reply and offer you my congratulations for the home-work that you did. Now, Sir, before I ask you some supplementary questions, may I enquire whether you are aware that a question should not be made the subject of debate? Since you have given such a comprehensive answer, it might well be construed that you have set aside Standing Orders in order to instigate a debate on this issue. Am I right? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: It is not so, Mr. SALES.
MR. SALES: Thank you. Mr. Chairman, why was it that your department did not issue the complete Code of Practice to the Select Committee?
CHAIRMAN: I think, Mr. SALES, that the Division concerned thought that this was the main part of the Code affecting the department and in which Members would probably be most interested; but perhaps this was a tactical mistake.
MR. SALES: Is the Division concerned not aware that my Select Committee was very much interested in this problem and had been promised a complete report by your department?
CHAIRMAN: This is correct, Mr. SALES, and I think we did certainly promise to let you have the Code of Practice. It is not quite clear to me why they only gave you the "land aspects".
MR. SALES: You rightly assume that had they issued the whole Code of Practice to my Select Committee instead of deciding for themselves to disclose certain parts and to hide other parts, this question
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