10
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1987
ARMY RE-CONSTRUCTS LANTAU PIER
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THREE VILLAGES IN NORTHEASTERN LANTAU WILL AGAIN BE ABLE TO TRANSPORT THEIR GOODS TO THE MARKETS WHEN THE ARMY COMPLETES RE-CONSTRUCTING A VITAL SEA LINK THE PAK MONG PIER.
THE 30-METRE LONG PIER IS THE ONLY SEA LINK FOR PAK MONG, NGAU KAU LONG AND TAI HO VILLAGES TO THE MARKETS IN KOWLOON WHERE THEIR AGRICULTURAL GOODS ARE SOLD.
THE PIER WILL ALSO SERVE AS THE BERTHING PLACE FOR THE FLOATING CLINIC WHICH CALLS AT THE VILLAGES WEEKLY.
THE ORIGINAL PIER WAS BUILT IN LATE 1971 AND HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT IT HAD BEEN RENDERED UNUSABLE. THIS PROMPTED VILLAGERS TO SELL THEIR GOODS AT MUI WO INSTEAD OF KOWLOON, WHICH MEANT THEY HAD TO WALK ONE-AND-A-HALF HOURS DAILY TO GET TO THE MARKET.
AT THE REQUEST OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE, THE ARMY AGREED TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE AND LABOUR TO RE-BUILD THE PIER WHILE THE DISTRICT OFFICE PROVIDED THE FUNDS AND NECESSARY MATERIALS.
THE WORK INCLUDED PEELING THE ERODED STEEL PILES, STRENGTHENING THEM AND RE-DECKING THE PIER SURFACE.
THE PROJECT WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE E TROOP, 68TH GURKHA FIELD SQUADRON OF THE QUEEN'S GURKHA ENGINEERS. WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY MAY 23.
RETIRING TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER FETED
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STAFF OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT BADE FAREWELL TO THEIR RETIRING COMMISSIONER, MR PETER LEEDS, AT A DINNER RECEPTION YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR LEEDS WILL LEAVE THE DEPARTMENT ON MAY 18, ENDING HIS 36 YEARS' SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
AT THE DINNER, MR LEEDS WAS PRESENTED A SOUVENIR BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, WHO PRAISED THE COMMISSIONER FOR PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN HONG KONG.
THE SOUVENIR IS MADE OF A BUS GEAR AND A ROTATIVE PLAQUE WITH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT'S LOGO.
/THANKING HIS