FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1987
NO HASTY DECISION ON OIL DEPOT RELOCATION PROPOSAL SIR DAVID
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NO HASTY DECISION WILL BE MADE ON A PROPOSAL TO RELOCATE OIL DEPOTS IN KWUN TONG TO TSING YI ISLAND, AND LOCAL RESIDENTS AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE CONSULTED ON THE MATTER, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER TOURING THE ISLAND, SIR DAVID SAID THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD ONLY APPROVED THE CONCEPT OF LOOKING INTO THE PROPOSAL IN GREATER DETAIL AND HAD NOT GIVEN ANY GREEN LIGHT YET.
+CERTAINLY WE WON'T MOVE AN OIL DEPOT TO TSING YI WITHOUT THINKING VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT IT. THE WHOLE OBJECT OF MOVING THE OIL DEPOT, IF IT IS TO BE MOVED, IS TO MOVE IT AWAY FROM A RESIDENTIAL AREA IN KWUN TONG TO A PLACE WHERE IT IS AT A DISTANCE FROM RESIDENTIAL AREAS, HE SAID.
SIR DAVID STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY AT THE QUESTION OF LOCATION AND THE DISTANCE FROM RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
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+BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WE ARE SHORT OF LAND IN HONG KONG WHICH HAS DEEP WATER ALONGSIDE THAT WE CAN BRING SHIPS IN AND UNLOAD THEIR CARGOES.
+SO WE MUST MAKE THE BEST USE OF OUR FACILITIES,+ HE SAID.
ASKED WHETHER TSING YI WAS A SUITABLE PLACE FOR OIL DEPOTS, SIR DAVID SAID: IT IS A VERY GOOD PLACE IN THE RESPECT THAT IT' HAS VERY DEEP WATER AND WE CAN TIE UP SHIPS ALONGSIDE. AND WE MUST MAKE THE BEST USE OF THESE FACILITIES.
*BUT OF COURSE, AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUSTN'T ENDANGER THE INHABITANTS, HE STRESSED.
ASKED ABOUT GOVERNMENT ACTION ON THE MATTER, SIR DAVID SAID: +FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED LAND TRANSACTION TO BEGIN WITH, SWOPPING ONE PIECE OF LAND FOR ANOTHER PIECE OF LAND.
+BUT WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS AND THEN CONSULT THE LOCAL PEOPLE. THERE'S NO QUESTION OF A STEAM-ROLLER HERE. THERE'LL BE PROPER CONSULTATION.
ON THE QUESTION OF A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE LOCATION FOR THE OIL DEPOTS, SIR DAVID NOTED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND A PLACE IN HONG KONG WHICH HAD BOTH DEEP WATER, SAFE WATER AND ROAD ACCESS.
+THAT'S THE PROBLEM. AND, OF COURSE OUR ENERGY SUPPLIES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US BECAUSE OUR INDUSTRY DEPENDS UPON THEM,+ HE SAID.
/+AND IT'S