XN000022-1982-07-09 — Page 11

FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1982

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BETTER CONTROL OF CARGO HANDLING AREAS

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PLANS TO IMPROVE CARGO HANDLING OPERATIONS IN HONG KONG WILL BE PUT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEDNESDAY (JULY 14).

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS AT PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS AND PUBLIC WATERFRONTS, IT WAS FOUND THAT WHILE CONTROL MEASURES INTRODUCED IN 1974 HAD BROUGHT A DEGREE OF ORDER TO A PREVIOUSLY CHAOTIC SITUATION, CERTAIN PROBLEMS REMAINED.

GOODS DELIVERED TO THE WATERFRONT ARE OFTEN LEFT UNATTENDED IF THE VESSEL OR VEHICLE ENGAGED TO CARRY THE GOODS IS NOT ALREADY THERE TO RECEIVE THEM, AND THE INCREASING VOLUME OF SUCH GOODS IS BEGINNING TO HAMPER CARGO HANDLING ACTIVITIES,

THE PORT CONTROL (CARGO WORKING AREAS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 SEEKS TO EMPOWER THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE TO SEIZE IN SITU ANY GOODS WHICH HE IS SATISFIED HAVE BEEN LEFT UNATTENDED IN A PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA OR PUBLIC WATERFRONT. THE GOODS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO CLAIM BY THE OWNER ON PAYMENT OF CERTAIN FEES AND HANDLING CHARGES WITHIN 14 DAYS, AFTER WHICH THE GOODS MAY BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF.

ANY PERSON WHO INTERFERES WITH OR REMOVES ANY CARGO OR CARGO CONTAINER SEIZED WOULD BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $20 000 AND TO IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID WHERE THERE WAS A NEED TO DEPOSIT CARGO AT A PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA OR PUBLIC WATERFRONT FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, THE OWNER COULD APPLY TO THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE FOR A PERMIT AT THE PRESCRIBED FEE.

THE BILL PROVIDES THE POWER FOR THE DIRECTOR OR A SUPERVISOR TO OBTAIN THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF DRIVERS AND PERSONS IN CHARGE OF VESSELS INVOLVED IN A SUSPECTED OFFENCE UNDER THE ORDINANCE OR REGULATIONS, FAILURE TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION WOULD RENDER A PERSON LIABLE TO A FINE OF $5 000. IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE EXISTING PENALTY FOR AN OFFENCE UNDER THE REGULATIONS SHOULD BE RAISED FROM A FINE OF $5 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS TO A FINE OF $20 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID A VARIETY OF OTHER PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN THE REVIEW, SUCH AS THE UNSATISFACTORY UTILISATION OF BERTHS, WOULD BE DEALT WITH BY PROPOSED NEW REGULATIONS WHICH WOULD BE INTRODUCED AFTER THE BILL HAS BEEN APPROVED.

ONE OF THESE REGULATIONS WILL EMPOWER THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE TO SET ASIDE SPECIAL AREAS WITHIN A PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA OR PUBLIC WATERFRONT AND TO SPECIFY THE TYPE OF HANDLING MACHINERY AND MODE OF OPERATION FOR THE HANDLING OF CEMENT AND LIME AND OTHER OBNOXIOUS CARGO.

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