XN000022-1976-09-25 — Page 6

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1976

TEMPORARY MOORING FOR JUMBO FLOATING RESTAURANT

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ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE FOR THE JUMBO FLOATING RESTAURANT TO BE MOORED AT A BERTH ALONGSIDE THE SEA-WALL IN THE ABERDEEN WEST TYPHOON SHELTER, CLOSE TO WU NAM STREET.

THE MOORING OF THE FLOATING RESTAURANT AT THIS LOCATION IS A TEMPORARY MEASURE PENDING THE COMPLETION OF SHORE BASED FACILITIES, INCLUDING A CAR-PARK AND JETTY, AT SHUM WAN IN ABERDEEN WHERE THE JUMBO AND TWO OTHER FLOATING RESTAURANTS WILL BE MOORED IN ABOUT 18 MONTHS TIME.

THE EXPECTED COMPLETION OF THE CAR-PARK AND JETTY IN ABOUT 18 MONTHS TIME WILL COINCIDE WITH THE COMMISSIONING OF A NEW FIRE-BOAT FOR ABERDEEN WHICH WILL BE LARGER, MORE POWERFUL AND BETTER EQUIPPED THAN THE EXISTING FIRE-BOAT, ALTHOUGH CERTAIN FISHERMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO MOOR THE JUMBO FLOATING RESTAURANT IN THE BUSY ABERDEEN WEST TYPHOON SHELTER, THE TEMPORARY MOORING OF THE JUMBO AT THIS LOCATION WILL NOT OBSTRUCT VESSELS USING THE FAIRWAY THROUGH THE HARBOUR. STATIONARY CRAFT WHICH WILL BE REQUIRED TO MOVE TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE JUMBO WILL BE RELOCATED UNDER THE DIRECTIONS OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MINIMIZE ADDITIONAL CONGESTION AND INCONVENIENCE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION HAS SAID THAT ABERDEEN AND ITS FLOATING RESTAURANTS IS ONE OF THE PERENNIAL ATTRACTIONS OF HONG KONG AND THE PRESENCE OF THE JUMBO WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BRING MORE VISITORS TO THE AREA WHICH WILL BE OF CONSIDERABLE COMMERCIAL BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY OF ABERDEEN.

THE NAME OF ABERDEEN IS LINKED TO THE FLOATING RESTAURANT BUSINESS AND IT IS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE THAT THIS LARGE NEW FLOATING RESTAURANT SHOULD BE BASED THERE.

PUBLIC OFF-STREET CAR-PARKING FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED ADJACENT TO THE TEMPORARY MOORING AT THE OWNERS' EXPENSE. THE OWNERS HAVE ALSO BEEN REQUIRED TO MEET THE COST OF INSTALLING A MAINS WATER SUPPLY AND FIRE HYDRANTS ON THE SEA-WALL ALONGSIDE THE VESSEL. THE MOST STRINGENT FIRE PRECAUTIONS HAVE BEEN LAID DOWN BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN OF THE FLOATING RESTAURANT.

THE EVENTUAL REMOVAL OF THE JUMBO AND TWO OTHER FLOATING RESTAURANTS TO NEW MOORINGS AT SHUM WAN, ABERDEEN IN ABOUT 18 MONTHS' TIME IS PART OF GOVERNMENT'S PLAN FOR IMPROVING ABERDEEN HARBOUR BY RELIEVING CONGESTION AND MAKING IT A MORE EFFICIENT BASE FROM WHICH THE FISHING FLEET MAY OPERATE.

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