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SUNDAY, MAY 25, 1975
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THE PRESENT FLEET CARRIES OUT DAILY OIL DISPERSAL DUTIES AROUND OIL TERMINALS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE HARBOUR, HE SAID. RECENTLY THE UNIT HAS ACQUIRED 4,750 FEET OF LIGHT-WEIGHT OIL BOON AUD WILL SHORTLY GET A FURTHER 10,000 GALLONS OF DISPERSANT ON TOP OF ITS PRESENT STOCK SO THAT AT ALL TIMES 20,000 GALLONS WILL BE AVAILABLE. EIGHT PORTABLE RADIOS WILL ALSO DE ORDERED TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION LINKS BETWEEN OPERATING LAUNCHES IN AN EMERGENCY.
THE POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT IS ALSO INVESTIGATING MEANS TO IMPROVE THE EFFECIENCY OF THE HARBOUR SCAVENGIES FLEET WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THE VATER REFUSE-FREE.
MR. MASON SAID THE UNIT WAS CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF BUYING A MECHANICAL REFUSE COLLECTOR TO REPLACE MANUAL WORKERS ON SAMPANS WHO COLLECT REFUSE BY TRADITIONAL NEANS OF FISHING NETS AND POLES.
THE DEPARTMENT CONSIDERED SPECIFICATIONS OF NEW WATERDORNE REFUSE COLLECTORS. IN THE EVENT ONE CRAFT SUITABLE FOR HONG KONG BECOMES AVAILABLE, HE SAID.
AT PRESENT. THERE ARE 12 SAMPANS OPERATING IN CENTRAL HARBOUR AND SIX AT ABERDEEN. THEY COLLECT AN AVERAGE OF 13 TONS OF REFUSE DAILY. THE REFUSE COLLECTED IS DISPOSED OFF AT GIN DRINKER'S BAY.
THE POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR PROSECUTING MASTERS AND OWNERS OF VESSELS WHICH CAUSE OIL SPILLAGES OR DEPOSIT REFUSE IN HONG KONG WATERS. OFFENDERS ARE LIADLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $20,000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT.
LAST YEAR, A TOTAL OF FIVE CASES WERE PROSECUTED FOR DISCHARGING OIL INTO THE WATERS. THE TOTAL FINES AMOUNTED TO $12,200, WITH A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000.
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