FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1977
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PLAN TO REMOVE CONGESTION IN ABERDEEN HARBOUR
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STATIONARY CRAFT IN ABERDEEN WEST WILL HAVE TO BE MOVED ON A PHASED BASIS TO ANOTHER PART OF THE HARBOUR IN A PLAN TO REMOVE CONGESTION.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MARINE (PORT ADMINISTRATION), MR. W.D. LEIGHTON, AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH TODAY.
+THIS MEANS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE THREE VERY POPULAR FLOATING RESTAURANTS WILL SHORTLY HAVE TO BE RELOCATED IN ABERDEEN SOUTH OPPOSITE SHUM WAN, AT WHICH LOCATION MEASURES ARE ALREADY WELL ADVANCED TO PROVIDE PROPER LANDING FACILITIES, ROADWAYS AND CAR PARKING FACILITIES, MR. LEIGHTON SAID.
HE EXPLAINED THAT SCHEDULED DEVELOPMENTS IN ABERDEEN WOULD RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE RECLAMATIONS BEING UNDERTAKEN ALONG THE WATERFRONT AND THE FORESHORE OF AP LEI CHAU BOUNDING THE PORT.
+THESE RECLAMATIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF 25 ACRES OF WATER SPACE IN ABERDEEN WEST WHICH WILL AGGRAVATE AN ALREADY GRAVE SITUATION UNLESS STEPS ARE TAKEN TO ALLEVIATE THE CHRONIC CONGESTION WHICH PERTAINS THERE, HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE HAD ALREADY EVOLVED A POLICY, AGREED BY GOVERNMENT, THAT ABERDEEN WEST MUST BE DEVELOPED AS AN EFFICIENT PORT FOR THE FISHING INDUSTRY AND ALLIED TRADES, WHILST ABERDEEN SOUTH MUST BE FULLY EXPLOITED TO CATER FOR THOSE OTHER VESSELS WHICH USE ABERDEEN AS A BASE BUT WHICH HAVE NO DIRECT CONNECTIONS WITH THE FISHING INDUSTRY.
HE SAID NO DOUBT THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND PROJECTED MOVEMENTS, OCCURRING OVER A COMPARATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, WOULD BE RESENTED BY SOME PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
HE REGRETTED THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE INCONVENIENCED PARTICULARLY WHERE THIS MAY UPSET THEIR DAILY ROUTINES, AND POSSIBLY ALSO INVOLVE THEM IN SOME EXPENSE. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SAID, HOWEVER, THAT THESE CHANGES ARE + INEVITABLE IN EVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST. +
ON THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL OF HONG KONG WATERS, FOR WHICH HE IS RESPONSIBLE, MR. LEIGHTON TOLD THE ROTARIANS THAT THERE WERE SOME 350 SQUARE MILES OF THESE WATERS AND 16 DESIGNATED PORTS, INCLUDING HONG KONG HARBOUR AND ABERDEEN.
TO ILLUSTRATE THE INTENSE SEABORNE ACTIVITY, MR. LEIGHTON POINTED OUT THAT MORE THAN 8,000 OCEAN-GOING SHIPS ENTERED AND CLEARED THE HARBOUR LAST YEAR, TO DISCHARGE 15.5 MILLION LONG TONS AND LOADED 5.7 MILLION LONG TONS OF CARGO.
IN ADDITION