XN000022-1980-06-06 — Page 14

FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1980

13

DIRECTOR OF MARINE RETIRES

****

MR M.J. ALEXANDER, DIRECTOR OF MARINE, IS RETIRING FROM THE GOVERNMENT AFTER 25 YEARS' SERVICE WITH THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.

DURING THE YEARS IN WHICH HE HAS BEEN DIRECTOR, THE PORT OF HONG KONG HAS UNDERGONE MANY IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS.

THESE INCLUDE TRANSFER OF THE MAJOR SHIP-REPAIRING FACILITIES TO TSING YI, PROVISION OF FURTHER CARGO HANDLING AREAS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR, AND THE SAFE CONSTRUCTION OF A HUGE FLOATING RESTAURANT AND ITS EVENTUAL RELOCATION WITH TWO OTHER RESTAURANTS AT SHAM WAN,

MORE RECENTLY, THERE WERE INAUGURATIONS OF FIVE PASSENGER SHIPPING SERVICES BETWEEN VICTORIA HARBOUR AND CHINESE PORTS, AS WELL AS A JETFOIL NIGHT SERVICE TO AND FROM MACAU,

HE HAS ALSO PLAYED A PROMINENT PART IN INTRODUCING MEASURES TO COPE WITH PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE INFLUX OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM, AND HAS ABLY SUPPORTED ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OPERATIONS AT SEA.

MR ALEXANDER JOINED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1954 AS A MARINE OFFICER AND WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR MARINE OFFICER IN 1965. HE WAS SECONDED TO THE FINANCE BRANCH FROM 1969 TO 1970 AND WAS PROMOTED TO PRINCIPAL MARINE OFFICER IN 1971.

HE BECAME DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN MARCH 1972 AND WAS PROMOTED DIRECTOR IN APRIL 1977.

FROM MARCH 1972 TO JUNE 1975, HE CHAIRED THE SPECIAL SUB-COMMITTEE ON OIL POLLUTION WHICH WAS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR FORMULATING THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON THE CONTROL OF OIL POLLUTION.

HE HAD ALSO BEEN THE FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG MERCHANT NAVY TRAINING BOARD, CHAIRMAN OF THE MERCANTILE MARINE ASSISTANCE FUND COMMITTEE, THE PORT COMMITTEE, THE SEAMEN'S RECRUITING ADVISORY BOARD, AND THE SEAMEN'S BOARD OF REFERENCE.

AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS THIS AFTERNOON, MR ALEXANDER WAS PRESENTED A FAREWELL GIFT FROM HIS COLLEAGUES BY THE DIRECTOR DESIGNATE, MR P.E.J. DAVY. HE WILL GO ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE ON JUNE 13.

/14