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WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1979
ASSISTANCE OFFERED TO FISHERMEN INVOLVED IN SEA COLLISIONS
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THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OFFERING ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL FISHERMEN WHOSE VESSELS WERE INVOLVED IN COLLISIONS WITH OCEAN-GOING VESSELS.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS ASSISTED THE FISHERMEN IN IDENTIFYING THE OCEAN-GOING VESSELS INVOLVED AND THE SHIPPING COMPANIES CONCERNED, AND IN APPLYING FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND PUBLIC HOUSING.
THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. D.G. JEAFFRESON, SAID THIS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HO KAM-FAI.
MR. JEAFFRESON SAID RECORDS SHOWED THAT, OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THERE WERE FOUR COLLISIONS BETWEEN HONG KONG LICENSED FISHING VESSELS AND OCEAN-GOING VESSELS.
FIVE PERSONS WERE MISSING AND FIVE INJURED IN TWO COLLISIONS OUTSIDE HONG KONG WATERS, HE SAID.
THE FIRST COLLISION OCCURED IN MAY 1978 INSIDE HONG KONG WATERS AND THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAD ASSISTED THE FISHERMEN TO
IDENTIFY THE OCEAN-GOING VESSEL INVOLVED AND THE SHIPPING COMPANY CONCERNED,
THE COMPANY HAD REPORTED REACHING A SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT WITH THE FISHERMEN, HE SAID.
THE SECOND COLLISION OCCURRED IN DECEMBER 1978, AGAIN INSIDE HONG KONG WATERS, WITH THE FISHING VESSEL SUFFERING ONLY MINOR DAMAGES TO THE HULL.
THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO ASSISTED THE FISHERMEN TO IDENTIFY THE OCEAN-GOING VESSEL AND THE SHIPPING COMPANY CONCERNED. BUT IN THIS CASE, THE COMPANY HAD REPORTED THAT THE FISHERMEN HAD NOT APPROACHED IT FOR COMPENSATION.
MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THE THIRD COLLISION HAPPENED ON MARCH 7 THIS YEAR OUTSIDE HONG KONG WATERS.
AFTER FAILING TO IDENTIFY THE OTHER VESSEL CONCERNED THE FISHERMEN APPROACHED THE MARINE DEPARTMENT FOR HELP, BUT THE VESSEL COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED.
SINCE MARCH 16, THE FISHERMEN HAVE BEEN RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. THEY HAVE BEEN OFFERED, BUT REFUSED, COMPASSIONATE TEMPORARY HOUSING,
THE FOURTH COLLISION OCCURRED EARLY LAST MONTH, ALSO OUTSIDE HONG KONG WATERS. AGAIN BOTH THE FISHERMEN AND THE MAR INE DEPARTMENT FAILED TO IDENTIFY THE OCEAN-GOING VESSEL INVOLVED.
THE FISHERMEN HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND FOR COMPASS JONATE HOUSING BUT WERE FOUND TO BE INELIGIBLE.
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