XN000022-1974-12-18 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1974

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DUMPING OF EXPLOSIVES *****

THE MASTER OF THE S.S. +JASON 11+ WAS ACTING ON THE ADVICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE WHO HAD CONSULTED THE MINES DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE WHEN HE DUMPED EXPLOSIVES ON THE HIGH SEAS.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON IN HIS REPLY TO THE HON. T.S. LO'S QUESTIONS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

RECOUNTING THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THE DUMPING, MR. ROBSON SAID WHEN THE $.S. +JASON 11+ ARRIVED IN HONG KONG, IT HAD A CARGO OF EXPLOSIVES. ON INSPECTION, SOME OF THE CARGO WAS FOUND TO BE DAMAGED BY SEA WATER AND IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION,

THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OWNERS OF THE CARGO WAS THEREFORE TOLD BY A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN THAT THE DAMAGED PORTION COULD NOT BE LANDED AND STORED IN AN EXPLOSIVE DEPOT. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE MATERIALS SHOULD EITHER BE RETURNED TO THE PORT OF LOADING OR DUMPED SAFELY ON THE HIGH SEAS, HE SAID.

+1 SHOULD SAY HERE THAT THE HIGH SEAS ARE DEFINED AS BEING OUTSIDE THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF ANY COUNTRY. PERMISSION TO DUMP IN HONG KONG WATERS WAS REFUSED,+ HE EMPHASISED.

MR. ROBSON DISCLOSED THAT THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WAS CURRENTLY STUDYING A LEGISLATION AIMED AT CONTROLLING THE DUMPING AT SEA OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS BY GRANTING A LICENCE WHICH SPECIFIED EXACTLY HOW SUCH MATERIALS WERE TO BE DUMPED. A SIMILAR LEGISLATION WAS ENACTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM THIS YEAR, HE ADDED.

''SPEED READING'' DEMONSTRATION FOR STUDENTS

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A TALK AND DEMONSTRATION ON'' SPEED READING HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE TAI HANG TUNG COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE USING ITS LIBRARY TO HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR READING.

THIS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE LIBRARY OF THE CENTRE IN TONG YAM STREET TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT 8 P.M.

A GUEST SPEAKER FROM A **SPEED READING'' TRAINING INSTITUTE WILL GIVE THE TALK AND DEMONSTRATE SOME FAST READING TECHNIQUES. THOSE ATTENDING THE LECTURE WILL ALSO BE GIVEN A SHORT TEST TO CHECK THEIR READING ABILITY,

IT IS DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS STUDYING IN FORM 3 AND ABOVE, AND APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY COUNTER. NOTES AND READING MATERIALS WILL BE SUPPLIED BUT PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BRING THEIR OWN PENS AND A PIECE OF CARDBOARD ON WHICH TO WRITE,

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