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Friday, December 14, 1975
REPORT ON APLICHAU OIL SPILLAGE COMPLETED
The three-man Commission of Inquiry into the oil spillage at
Aplichau last month submitted its report to the Governor today.
The report covers 15 pages and includes four appendices of detailed
drawings, technical charts and relevant engineering information.
The Cormission, headed by Judge W.S. Collier, was appointed on
November 15, with Professor S. Mackey and Mr. P.K. Ng as members.
During their investigations they made several site inspections
Public hearings were held in
and held a number of preliminary hearings.
the Legislative Council Chamber on December 4 and 6,
Most of the evidence presented at the hearing was in the form of
written reports. Altogether 18 submissions were made. These included
reports by the Fire Services Department, the Marine Department, the Public
Works Department, Gammon Ltd., Tian San Construction Company, and the
Shell Company.
report.
The Commission was given up to January 31, 1974 to submit its
Its terms of reference were:
To enquire into the circumstances in which a storage tank at the Shell Oil Installation at Aplichau fractured during the night of the 8th/9th November, 1973.
To ascertain how oil escaped from that tank into the
sea in spite of the various safety devices provided, and
To make recommendations to the Governor for the prevention
of similar accidents in future.
The question of pollution caused by the oil, any damage
resulting therefrom, and the steps taken to remove the spilled oil were outside
the Commission's terms of reference.
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