-
28
"They in turn rely on Government vessels to discharge their duties," Mrs Chan said, adding that it is the Government Dockyard that provides the essential maintenance services to the Government Fleet," she said.
The dockyard was relocated in July this year to make way for the West Harbour Crossing and the West Kowloon Expressway which are crucial elements of the Airport Core Programme.
Advanced facilities have been installed to provide efficient maintenance services to the Government Fleet into the next century.
"The dockyard is expected to develop further after 1997 as it will take over the whole basin inclusive of land and facilities after the departure of the Royal Navy," Mrs Chan said.
"With this future expansion and continuous improvement in its facilities, the dockyard should be well placed to service the Government Fleet," she added.
"I am sure that all user departments and the public will, in turn benefit," Mrs Chan said,
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of Marine, Mr Ian Dale, said the new Government Dockyard, the latest of three yards since the 1960's, had been designed to fully serve the needs of a growing fleet of more sophisticated Government vessels. Its activities cover the entire life of each craft, from design to commissioning, crewing, maintenance, decommissioning and final disposal.
He recalled how in the 1960's Government vessels were maintained at a small open yard and slipway in Yau Ma Tei.
"It was rebuilt in 1971 to provide covered slipways and maintained some 200 vessels," he said.
"By 1994 this facility was 23 years old, was responsible for 531 vessels of increased size and sophistication, and was part of a Government Fleet Division employing some 700 staff." He noted that the current yard on Stonecutters will be completed in three phases ending in 1997 with the addition of the adjacent "HMS Tamar" site.
Page 30Page 31