XN000022-1974-07-23 — Page 2

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- TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1974

WAN CHAI CARGO BASIN OPERATIVE ON FRIDAY

CARGO HANDLING TO BE CONTROLLED

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THE WAN CHAI PUBLIC CARGO WORKING BASIN SITE FOR HONG KONG'S FIRST PILOT CONTROL SCHEME FOR REGULATING CARGO HANDLING ACTIVITIES AT PUBLIC SEAWALLS WILL BE OPERATIVE ON FRIDAY (JULY 26).

MR. ANN TSE-KAI. AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WILL DECLARE THE BASIN OPEN AT 10.30 A.M. ON THAT DAY.

THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY MR. BERNARD TANG, SENIOR MAR INE OFFICER (CARGO HANDLING), AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY WHEN HE GAVE DETAILS OF THE SCHEME AND THE CHARGES TO BE LEVIED AT THE BASIN.

ALSO PRESENT AT THE NEUS CONFERENCE WAS MR. KAM CHAN-Y IU, AN ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WHO SPOKE ON A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDED ROUTES FOR GOODS VEHICLES TO AND FROM THE CARGO VORKING AREA.

MR. TANG SAID THE OPENING OF THE PURPOSE BUILT WAN CHA! BASIN FOLLOWED THE PASSAGE INTO LAW OF THE PORT CONTROL CCARGO WORKING AREAS) BILL 1974 AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING LAST WEDNESDAY (JULY 17).

THE NEWLY ENACTED LEGISLATION MAINLY PROVIDES FOR CONTROL OF THE USE OF WATER-FRONT AREAS DY PERSONS, VEHICLES AND VESSELS, AND GENERALLY FOR CONTROL OF THE HANDLING OF CARGO IN SUCH AREAS.

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, PUBLIC SEAWALLS ARE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE CATEGORIES - PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS, PUBLIC WATERFRONTS AND EXCLUDED WATERFRONTS. CARGO MOVEMENT IS PERMITTED IN ALL PUBLIC SEAVALLS EXCEPT EXCLUDED WATERFRONTS.

AND THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE IS EMPOWERED TO INTRODUCE CONTROL MEASURES OVER CARGO WORKING ACTIVITIES.

THE WAN CHAI BASIN IS LOCATED AT THE EASTERN END OF THE WAN CHAI RECLAMATION WITH A SEA FRONTAGE OF 2,800 FEET FOR BERTHING CARGO VESSELS, AND PARKING SPACE FOR 134 LORRIES.

THE BASIN COULD ACCOMMODATE, AT ANY ONE TIME, 21 DUMP STEEL LIGHTERS AND 28 HOTOR CARGO BOATS.

MR. TANG POINTED OUT THAT CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND TRANSPORTATION OPERATORS CONCLUDED THAT THE AREA SHOULD BE OPERATED ON A 24-HOUR BASIS WITH MARINE DEPARTMENT STAFF PRESENT TO REGULATE THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES.

/CHARGES, HE...................