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34.
Service Explosives and other Dangerous Goods
The presence of a large Service magazine on Stonecutters Island within a commercial harbour is most undesirable and we trust that serious consideration will be given in any future town planning to its removal elsewhere. We refer in this respect to Sir Patrick Abercrombie's Report, paragraph 74.
We have already commented on the practice of Naval ships taking on ammunition in the Harbour. Before the last war the con- veyance, loading and unloading of Explosives in harbours of the United Kingdom were regulated by Byelaws made by the several harbour authorities and sanctioned by the Minister of Transport under the Explosives Act, 1875. In general, these Byelaws did not permit the entry into any dock areas of Explosives but required them to be dealt with at places approved by the harbour authorities outside the dock areas, and usually at anchorages. To meet war conditions in 1939, the Minister of Transport issued an Order under the Defence Regulations which permitted Explosives to be conveyed to and loaded or unloaded in dock areas, and subsequently the Ministry and the Dock and Harbour Authorities' Association negotiated an indemnity providing the various harbour authorities with financial protection against any consequences of the abrogation of their byelaws. While we do not have enclosed docks in Hong Kong, the Harbour is narrow at its central point and many buildings exist in close proxi- mity to wharves and buoys. We consider that the Government of Hong, Kong should seek a similar indemnity from the Service Authorities against all risks involved in the handling of Explosives and other Dangerous Goods for the Services within the Colony.
The Service concerned must, of course, remain fully res- ponsible for the complete supervision and safety of all movements of Explosives and other Dangerous Goods under its control, on land and water.
35.
Proposed Dangerous Goods Standing Committee
Owing to the complexities and constantly changing circun- stances of the whole subject of Dangerous Goods, we recommend the appointment of a Dangerous Goods Standing Committee whose duties would be to review, modify and keep up to date the new Regulations. While the amendment of the Regulations would, under the Ordinance, require to be made by the Governor in Council, it is hoped that the Government will act on the advice of this Standing Committee on all matters concerning Dangerous Goods.
The Committee should be competent to deal with the classi- fication and storage, handling, packing and marking standards of local commodities, and with the problem of Dangerous Goods arriving in the Colony under trade or proprietary names.
The Committee should be a small one, meeting at regular intervals or as circumstances necessitate, and might be composed of the Director of Marine or his nominated deputy, the Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade or his nominated deputy, a Government Chemist, the Com- misioner of Police or his nominated representative and one represen- tative each of godown interests, shipping interests and Dangerous Goods merchants. The suggestion to constitute this Committee is made in order to provide a medium whereby quick action can be taken on any matter of urgent importance.
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