XN000022-1975-09-16 — Page 2

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1975

COMMERCIAL DYNAMITE TO BE STORED ON STONECUTTERS ISLAND ******

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED AN OFFER BY HEADQUARTERS DRITISH FORCES TO STORE COMMERCIAL DYNAMTIE IN BULK ON STONECUTTERS ISLAND.

UNDER AN AGREEMENT SIGNED TODAY BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONER OF MINES, MR. IAN PRICE, AND COL. D.G. HENOHAM REPRESENTING HEAD- QUARTERS, BRITISH FORCES, THE BULK OF EXPLOSIVES NOW KEPT ON GREEN ISLAND, WILL DE STORED ON STONECUTTERS ISLAND.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE ARRANGEMENT WOULD RELIEVE THE STORAGE DURDEN ON THE GREEN ISLAND DEPOT, BY PROVIDING BACK-UP STORAGE FACILITIES.

HE SAID THE PROBLEM IN SUPPLIERS OBTAINING SUITABLE SHIPS TO CARRY EXPLOSIVES HAD MADE IT NECESSARY TO STORE LARGER QUANTITIES,

AFTER THE REDUCTION ON GREEN ISLAND, HE SAID THE STORAGE THERE WOULD STILL BE SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN THE DEPOT'S FUNCTION IN DAILY DELIVERIES FROM IT OF EXPLOSIVES.

THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO DANGER TO RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE SHAMSHUIPO DISTRICT BECAUSE THE EXPLOSIVES ARE TO BE STORED IN AN UNDERGROUND MAGAZINE ON STONECUTTERS ISLAND.

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IN THE MEANTIME HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD EXAMINE THE SUITABILITY OF WATER-GEL+ EXPLOSIVE, AND THE FEASIBILITY OF A SALE OF LAND, PREFERABLY OTHER THAN ON GREEN ISLAND, FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE IN HONG KONG.

THE +WATER-GEL+ OR SLURRY+ EXPLOSIVE IS A NEW CONCEPT WHICH HAS MUCH IMPROVED SAFETY CHARACTERISTICS IN STORAGE AND USE.

ITS USE, HOWEVER, IS NOT YET WIDESPREAD AND TRIALS ARE BEING ARRANGED IN ORDER TO MAKE A MORE EXTENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF ITS SUITABILITY, SAID THE SPOKESMAN.

IF A PLANT COULD DE ESTABLISHED TO MANUFACTURE WATER-GEL EXPLOSIVES IN HONG KONG, THE NEED TO SHIP IN AND STORE LARGE QUANTITIES OF CONVENTIONAL BLASTING MATERIAL WOULD DISAPPEAR, HE SAID.

FOR THIS REASON, THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED TO SUSPEND ACTION ON PROPOSALS FOR AN EXPLOSIVES DEPOT ON HEI LING CHAU, BUT TIE SITE EARMARKED FOR THIS PROJECT WOULD CONTINUE TO DE RESERVED UNTIL A DECISION CAN DE MADE ON THE SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURE OF WATER-GEL EXPLOSIVES IN HONG KONG.

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