CO129-626-2 Movement of dangerous goods around Hong Kong 1-1-1951 - 30-4-1951 — Page 20

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We have given most careful consideration to every aspect of this problem and we recommend that only Dangerous Goods in Port Class D, plus a few other substances in strictly limited quantities, should be allowed on the vehicular ferries at the same time as pas- sengers. It must, however, be impressed upon the Ferry Company that they are responsible for seeing that these Regulations are carried out and we have suggested increased powers of inspection for their staff.

It may be possible to run special ferrics for Dangerous Goods only, excluding all passengers other than the drivers of the vehicles and their assistants, but it must be remembered that all Dangerous Goods storage places are closed from sunset to sunrise and that the handling of Dangerous Goods should only take place in daylight.

16.

Explosives Generally

Under Term of Reference (k) we have given consideration to the locations of the Explosives' Depots on Green Island, Stone- cutters Island and elsewhere, and the existing Dangerous Goods Anchorages.

Two unusual features for a commercial harbour exist in Hong Kong, namely, the presence of large Service magazines on Stone- cutters Island and of a Government-owned commercial explosives' maga- zine on Green Island, both at the estern end of the Harbour. hile the Service magazine on Stonecutters Island is a modern storage maga- zine, well covered in, the commercial depot on Green Island consists of surface buildings relatively close together, with a detonator store at one end completely unscreened.

Since the war quantities up to 750 tons of explosives have been stored on Green Island, although the average monthly amounts now rarely exceed 200 tons. The magazines are situated on the North-east face of the island and the island of Hong Kong itself is partially protected. There is, however, a sector between Little Green Island and Green Island through which the blast wave of an explosion could travel and strike Hong Kong at a distance of little more than 2,000 feet. It is true that the population in this area is at the moment relatively small, but further travel of blast would encroach on residential areas and cover a gasometer, less than a mile away.

In Table A it will be seen that we have felt it necessary, on expert advice based on the Ministry of Supply and Service Safety Distance Tables for Explosives' Land Storage, to limit considerably the maximum quantities of explosives which may be permitted on board Type I ships at a wharf or at a buoy outside a Dangerous Goods Anchor- age. These limitations are essential for the safety of other ships

in the Fort.

We are of the opinion that the location of the commercial It is out explosives' magazine should be moved as soon as possible. of date, consists solely of surface buildings and is an easy target from aircraft and a menace to the growing Western part of the city.

We suggest that the most suitable alternative site will be found on Fu Tau Chau Island in Junk Bay, with the Explosives Anchorage as conveniently located to it as the depth of water will permit. The Committee's preference and strong recommendation for this area is because it will eliminate the entry of ships carrying more than a limited amount of Explosives into the Harbour, since these Explosives would be off-loaded into this magazine and transferred by lighter in moderate quantities to one or more sub-magazines, located in isolated spots on the island and mainland and from which issues for commercial use could be made. The lighters would discharge at specially enclosed piers in isolated locations; the whole movement, from the time the Explosives arrive in the vessel until the time of issue from the sub-magazine, to be under Government control with Folice supervision.

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