WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1987

FISH KILL IN LANTAU FISH CULTURE ZONE

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY

( WEDNESDAY)

INVESTIGATED A FISH KILL AFFECTING 30 OF THE 129 MARICULTURISTS IN THE CHEUNG SHA WAN FISH CULTURE ZONE AT LANTAU ISLAND.

RESEARCH

FOLLOWING A REPORT RECEIVED THIS MORNING, A FISHERIES OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT, DR PATSY WONG, IMMEDIATELY CARRIED OUT AN ON-SITE INVESTIGATION IN THE AREA.

THE FINDINGS REVEALED THAT THE FISH KILL WHICH OCCURRED YESTERDAY WAS DUE TO OXYGEN DEPLETION CAUSED BY STAGNANT TIDES.

DR WONG ESTIMATED THAT 8.5 TONNES OF FISH CONSISTING MAINLY OF PURPLE AMBERJACKS AND GOLD-LINED SEABREAMS WERE AFFECTED RESULTING IN AN ESTIMATED LOSS OF ABOUT $250,000.

THE DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVEL IN THE WATER AT CHEUNG SHA WAN HAS SOMEWHAT IMPROVED TODAY AND THERE IS NO MORE FISH KILL, SHE SAID.

"HOWEVER, WE HAVE ADVISED THE MARICULTURISTS IN THE AREA TO IMPROVE THE OXYGEN LEVEL IN THE WATER THROUGH MECHANICAL MEANS, PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT.

TO MARICULTURISTS

"IN FACT, WE HAVE ALSO GIVEN SIMILAR ADVICE IN OTHER FISH CULTURE ZONES WHICH MAY ALSO BE AFFECTED BY STAGNANT TIDES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS," DR WONG SAID.

MORE GRANTS TO BLAST VICTIMS

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PAID OUT AN ADDITIONAL $13,639 IN INJURY GRANTS FROM THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION (CLEIC) FUND ΤΟ FIVE VICTIMS INJURED IN AN EXPLOSION IN TAIKOO SHING ON JULY 8.

EARLIER, THE DEPARTMENT HAD GRANTED AN INITIAL SUM OF $9,135 IN INJURY AND INTERIM ADJUSTMENT GRANTS TO TWO OTHER INJURED.

30 FAR, THE DEPARTMENT HAD AWARDED A TOTAL OF $35,869 TO 10 OF THE 15 PEOPLE INJURED IN THE INCIDENT. THE REMAINING VICTIMS DID NOT APPLY FOR COMPENSATION EITHER BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT QUALIFIED OR BECAUSE THEY DID NOT REQUIRE ASSISTANCE.

BOTH FOR

THE CLEIC SCHEME AIMS AT PROVIDING CASH ASSISTANCE THOSE WHO ARE INJURED, DISABLED OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF A CRIME OF VIOLENCE AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE ACCIDENTALLY INJURED, DISABLED OR KILLED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER USING A WEAPON IN THE EXECUTION OF HIS DUTY.

THE SCHEME IS NON-MEANS TESTED AND ONE OF THE QUALIFYING CONDITIONS IS THAT THE INJURY GIVES RISE TO AT LEAST THREE DAYS' LOSS OF EARNINGS OR WORKING CAPACITY.

15

Share This Page