10
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1991
TRANSFER OF MINES DIVISION TO CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT
THE GOVERNMENT'S MINES DIVISION, WHOSE PRIMARY JOB IS TO ENSURE THE SAFE USE OF EXPLOSIVES ÎN CONSTRUCTION WORK AND QUARRYING, IS TO COME UNDER THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT FROM MARCH 1.
THE MINES DIVISION WAS PREVIOUSLY PART OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, BUT INCREASINGLY CLOSE LINKS HAVE DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE AND MINES DIVISION, AS THR TWO ORGANISATIONS SHARE A COMMON TECHNICAL BASE AND BOTH ACT AS REGULATORY AGENCIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD ΤΟ SITE FORMATION AND QUARRYING.
AND
THE TRANSFER WILL ALLOW BETTER CO-ORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES IMPROVED USE OF RESOURCES AND PROVISION OF SERVICES IN THE GOVERNMENT.
THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING WILL Take over tHE POST OF COMMISSIONER OF MINES IN ADDITION TO HIS PRESENT POST AND SIMILARLY THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER WILL HOLD THE ADDITIONAL POST OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF MINES.
THE TRANSFER OF THE MINES DIVISION WILL NOT AFFECT ITS PROCEDURES IN DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC, AND THE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
THE DIVISION IS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 393 CANTON ROAD, YAU MA TEI. THE ENQUIRY TELEPHONE NUMBER DURING OFFICE HOURS FOR THE MINES AND QUARRIES SECTION IS 733 2370, AND THAT FOR THE EXPLOSIVES SECTION IS 733 2371.
ALONG WITH MANAGING THE GOVERNMENT EXPLOSIVES DEPOTS AND LOOKING AFTER THE STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES, THE MINES DIVISION, WHICH EMPLOYS 166 PEOPLE, CONTINUES TO ISSUR PROSPECTING LICENCES.
IT
ALSO CARRIES OUT REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF PROSPECTING AREAS AND STONE QUARRIES, TO ENSURE ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS ARE BEING OBSERVED.
MINING AND
MINING AND
THAT THE RELEVANT
THE FOLLOWING IS A BACKGROUND NOTE ON THE WORKS OF THE MINES
DIVISION:
THE REGULATION OF MINING IN HONG KONG ORIGINATED IN ORDINANCES IN 1906 WHICH EMPOWERED THE GOVERNOR TO GRANT LICENCES FOR MINERAL PROSPECTING AND MINING.
THE MINES DIVISION (ORIGINALLY NAMED MINES DEPARTMENT} WAS FORMED IN 1953. ITS DUTIES WERE MAINLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE REHABILITATION OF THE PRE-WAR MINING AREAS AND THE STAMPING OUT OF ILLICIT MINING, WHICH WAS VERY PREVALENT AT THAT TIME.
/THE DEPARTMENT