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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1978
PORT OF HONG KONG LESS POLLUTED
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THE PORT OF HONG KONG IS NOW LESS POLLUTED - THANKS TO THE INCREASED VIGILANCE OF THE POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AND THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF HEAVY FINES IMPOSED BY THE COURTS TO MAKE SHIPPING AGENTS AWARE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM.
THIS ENCOURAGING TREND IS REFLECTED BY A DROP IN THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS TAKEN OUT BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IN RESPECT OF OIL POLLUTION AND SMOKE EMISSION BY VESSELS.
MR. REGINALD KENT, THE MARINE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE PROSECUTION UNIT OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT SO FAR THIS YEAR ONLY ONE SHIPPING AGENT HAD BEEN PROSECUTED FOR POLLUTING THE HARBOUR WITH OIL SPILLAGE COMPARED WITH SEVEN CASES IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
IN THE SOLE CASE, THE SHIPPING AGENT WAS FINED $15,000 FOR ALLOWING ITS VESSEL TO POLLUTE THE HARBOUR WITH OIL SLUDGE.
A TOTAL OF $81,000 IN FINES FOR OIL POLLUTION OFFENCES WAS IMPOSED IN THE SEVEN CASES LAST YEAR. OF THESE THE DEFENDANTS OF TWO CASES WERE GIVEN THE MAXIMUM FINE OF $20,000 EACH.
ONE OF LAST YEAR'S CASES IN WHICH THE HEAVIEST FINE WAS IMPOSED CONCERNED A SERIOUS OIL POLLUTION INCIDENT IN RECENT YEARS. IT OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 11 LAST YEAR WHEN A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL SLUDGE WAS DISCHARGED FROM A VESSEL, CAUSING AN AREA OF ABOUT 17 MILLION SQ. FEET IN THE SEA BEING POLLUTED.
THE PROBLEM OF SMOKE EMISSION BY VESSELS, ANOTHER MAJOR CAUSE OF HARBOUR POLLUTION, HAS ALSO IMPROVED.
ONLY ONE PROSECUTION AGAINST SMOKE EMISSION HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT SO FAR THIS YEAR AS AGAINST THREE IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
+BOTH OIL SPILLAGE AND EMISSION OF BLACK SMOKE ARE TOO OFTEN CAUSED BY HUMAN FACTORS SUCH AS NEGLIGENCE AND CARELESSNESS ON THE PART OF THE CREW ON BOARD. THEY CAN ALL BE AVOIDED THROUGH TIGHTER PRECAUTIONS, MR. KENT SAID.
HE ALSO CAUTIONED THAT SHIPPING AGENTS AND OWNERS OF VESSELS BEING CAUGHT FOR OIL SPILLAGE MAY BE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $20,000 FINE AND/OR SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT AND $5,000 FOR EXCESSIVE EMISSION OF SMOKE.
THE PENALTY MAY BECOME HEAVIER IN FUTURE AS LEGISLATION IS BEING PROPOSED TO RAISE THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR OIL POLLUTION IN HONG KONG WATERS FROM $20,000 TO $200,000, MR. KENT SAID.
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