XN000022-1972-12-06 — Page 3

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Wednesday, December 6, 1972

Referring to the obstruction case, the spokesman said: "In the

general interest of the floating population, the harbour and all fairways

must not be obstructed in order to ensure that fire vessels and Marine

launches can have proper access to typhoon shelters in case of emergency."

As to the types of offences, the spokesman said that they ranged

in the main from overloading and pollution while bunkering on the part of

the deep-sea vessels to obstruction, inadequacy and/or lack of fire-fighting

and life-saving appliances and so forth on board on the part of the local

crafts.

He added that the Seavise and Jumbo incidents underscored the grave

lesson that ship safety should be accorded top priority.

"In strictly enforcing the various shipping ordinances," the spokes-

man said, "the Marine Department has the full backing of the Court."

"Heavy fines imposed by the Court are expected to go a long way

towards rectifying the existing situation and deterring negligent vessel-

owners who overlook the safety of their shipa," he stressed.

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