XN000022-1977-12-09 — Page 4

- 3

-

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1977

WATERGEL EXPLOSIVES PLANT

****

THE GOVERNMENT, WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, HAS DECIDED TO AUTHORISE THE BUILDING OF A WATERGEL EXPLOSIVES PLANT ON STONECUTTERS ISLAND.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PLANT WILL BE A SMALL ONE DESIGNED TO SUPPLY HONG KONG'S OWN NEEDS OF THIS NEW-TYPE CARTRIDGE EXPLOSIVE. ITS MAXIMUM ANNUAL OUTPUT WILL ONLY BE BETWEEN 2,000 - 3,000 TONNES. LAST YEAR THE QUANTITY OF EXPLOSIVES OF ALL TYPES USED IN HONG KONG WAS ABOUT 3,200 TONNES.

THE SITE CHOSEN IS CONTAINED AND SHELTERED ON THREE SIDES BY HILLS IN THE NORTH, EAST AND SOUTH, THUS ENSURING THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN KOWLOON ARE IN NO DANGER. IT IS OVER TWO

MILES FROM HONG KONG ISLAND. THE SITE IS ADJACENT TO THE AREA ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE WHERE THE BRITISH SERVICES HAVE STORED AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES FOR MANY YEARS AND WHERE STRICT SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS ARE ALREADY IN FORCE.

THE SITE MEETS ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED SAFETY STANDARDS WITHOUT AFFECTING ANY OTHER PART OF HONG KONG.

+CARTRIDGED WATERGEL HAS EXCELLENT SAFETY CHARACTERISTICS AND IS ALREADY FAMILIAR TO THE LOCAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE ADVANTAGES TO BE GAINED IN COSTS AND IN PROMPT AVAILABILITY BY MANUFACTURING THIS EXPLOSIVE LOCALLY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

WITH THE REDUCTION OF THE GARRISON, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, IT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE FOR THE SERVICES TO MAKE UNDERGROUND STORAGE SPACE AVAILABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT WHICH IS ALREADY EXTENSIVELY UTILISED AND WHEN CERTAIN ADDITIONAL FACILITIES ARE COMPLETE THE STORAGE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLOSIVES ON GREEN ISLAND WILL BE UNNECESSARY.

OUTPUT FROM THE WATERGEL PLANT CAN BE PLANNED TO MEET LOCAL REQUIREMENTS ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS AND IT WILL HELP TO REDUCE THE QUANTITY OF BUFFER STOCKS WHICH NOW HAVE TO BE HELD. ISSUES WILL ALSO BE MADE DIRECT FROM STONECUTTERS ISLAND AVOIDING ANY TRANS-SHIPMENT THROUGH GREEN ISLAND.

+VARIOUS USES HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FOR GREEN ISLAND, BUT ITS SHORES ARE STEEP AND ROCKY AND THE SURROUNDING CURRENTS SOMETIMES DANGEROUS. IT IS WITHOUT FRESH WATER AND MUCH OF THE ISLAND HAS TO BE RESERVED FOR MARINE DEPARTMENT USE. THE LIGHTHOUSE AND SIGNAL STATION FOR EXAMPLE WILL REMAIN UNDER MARINE DEPARTMENT CONTROL AND THE DEPARTMENT IS EXAMINING THE POSSIBILITY OF USING THE ISLAND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. FOR EXAMPLE A MARINE TRAINING SCHOOL. IT IS ALREADY A WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND IT IS INTENDED TO RETAIN IT AS SUCH, PROVIDING AT THE SAME TIME A VISUAL AMENITY AT THE WESTERN APPROACH TO HONG KONG'S HARBOUR.+

оден

ATENDERS FOR