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FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1974
AS PUBLIC SEAVALLS VITHIN THE PORT ARE AT A PREMIUM THE HEAVY DEMAND HAD, IN THE PAST, RESULTED IN SUCH FACILITIES BEING ABUSED, CAUSING DELAYS AND, AS A RESULT, CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN THE COST OF TRANSPORTING IMPORT AND EXPORT CARGOES.
THESE ABUSES HAD ALSO LED TO HEAVY TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON ADJOINING AND NEIGHBOURING ROADS IN THE VICINITY OF THE CARGO WORKING AREAS, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WHERE HANDCARTS OR TROLLEYS ARE USED.
IN 1972. THE PORT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT THE TIME HAD COME TO IMPOSE CONTROLS SO AS TO ACHIEVE BETTER COORDINATION ON THE LANDWARD AND SEAWARD SIDES OF THE SEAWALLS WITH A VIEW TO REDUCING THIS CONGESTION.
HE SAID THE WẪN CHAI CARGO HANDLING BASIN WOULD BE THE FIRST PURPOSE BUILT BASIN TO BE OPERATED UNDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
FITTING OUT OF THE WAN CHAI BASIN IS NOW NEARING COMPLETION AND IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT IT WILL BE COMMISSIONED TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT MONTH WHEN THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE ENACTED.
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MARINE DEPARTMENT STAFF WILL WORK 24 HOURS A DAY AT THE BASIN TO ENABLE CARGO TO BE HANDLED EVEN AT NIGHT.
OTHER AREAS BEING PLANNED AT PRESENT FOR SIMILAR OPERATIONS ARE RAMBLER CHANNEL TYPHOON SHELTER, TSUEN WAN, TONG MEI ROAD AND HOI BUN ROAD.
PLANS ARE ALSO IN HAND TO DESIGNATE CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST AS A PUBLIC WATERFRONT · AREA AND A PILOT CONTROL SCHEME IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED THERE LATER THIS YEAR.
COMMENTING ON THE IMPOSITION OF CHARGES, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THESE CONTROL MEASURES, MAKING A FASTER TURN-AROUND OF BOTH LIGHTERS AND VEHICLES POSSIBLE, WOULD RESULT IN SAVINGS OF WAITING TIME, WHICH, IN TURN, WOULD MEAN SAVINGS IN DEMURRAGE CHARGES.
THEREFORE, THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED, THE SAVINGS WOULD BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO OFFSET THE CHARGES LEVIED, AND SHOULD NOT LEAD TO HIGHER COSTS BEING PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER.
HE ADDED THAT AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM OF CO-ORDINATING THE MOVEMENT OF CARGO SHOULD, IN FACT, REDUCE HANDLING COSTS.
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAD CONSULTED LIGHTER OPERATORS WHO SUPPORTED THESE CONTROL MEASURES AS THEY WOULD RATHER WORK IN A CONTROLLED ENCLAVE THAN TO TAKE THEIR CHANGES AT AN UNCONTROLLED WATERFRONT, HE SAID.
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