MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1993
MARINE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES PERFORMANCE PLEDGES
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THE MARINE DEPARTMENT'S MISSION IS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG BY ENHANCING ITS NATURAL ROLE AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT PORT'S, THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR ALLAN PYRKE, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
ANNOUNCING THE PERFORMANCE PLEDGES OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, MR PYRKE SAID:
"THE PORT IS VITAL TO HONG KONG'S ECONOMY, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS SAFE AND EFFICIENT OPERATION, AND FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE SURROUNDING WATERS. THESE ARE SOMB OF THE BUSIEST WATERS IN THE WORLD.
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HONG KONG IS THE LARGEST CONTAINER PORT IN THE WORLD AND IN 1992 IT HANDLED ALMOST EIGHT MILLION TEUS (TWENTY-FOOT EQUIVALENT UNITS) OF CONTAINERISED CARGO.
IN THE SAME YEAR SOME 23,000 OCEAN-GOING VESSELS AND 56,000 COASTAL AND RIVER CRAFT, AIDED BY 15,000 LOCAL CRAFT MOVED ALMOST 100 MILLION TONNES OF CARGO THROUGH THE PORT.
NINETY MILLION PEOPLE CROSSED THE HARBOUR ON DOMESTIC FERRIES AND 19 MILLION PASSENGERS TRAVELLED
ON 150,000 INTERNATIONAL FERRY MOVEMENTS TO AND FROM THE TERRITORY.
MR PYRKE SAID CUSTOMERS OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT RANGE FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BARGE OPERATORS AND PLEASURE BOAT OWNERS, FISHERMEN AND FINANCIERS TO SHIPOWNERS AND STEVEDORES.
PLEDGES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE:
* SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA
ΤΟ DEVOTE OUR PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO PROTECTING THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO WORK ON SHIPS OR TRAVEL BY SEA
* SEARCH AND RESCUE
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AIMS AT INITIATING MOBILISATION OF AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE WITHIN 97 MINUTES IN RESPONSE ΤΟ DISTRESS MESSAGES IN HONG RONG SEARCH AND RESCUE REGION
(ABOUT 500,000 SQUARE MILES OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA)
INTERNATIONAL FERRY TERMINALS - IN CONJUNCTION WITH STAFF OF THE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENTS, POR'T HEALTH AND THE POLICE, TO RUN THE CHINA AND MACAU FERRY TERMINALS SMOOTHLY AND EFFICIENTLY WITH DUE ALLOWANCE FOR RUSH HOURS
POLLUTION CONTROL
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OIL
AIMS AT DESPATCHING THE POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT TEAMS TO REACH THE SCENE OF ANY COMBATABLE SPILT INCIDENT INSIDE PORT LIMITS WITHIN TWO HOURS OF NOTIFICATION AND PROVIDING DAILY (EXCEPT DURING THE CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS) COLLECTION OF REFUSE/GARBAGE AT TYPHOON
SHELTERS
/PLEDGES TO