XN000022-1983-04-12 — Page 2

TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1983

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DWELLING VESSELS TO BE CONTROLLED

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AMENDING LEGISLATION AIMED AT CONTAINING THE GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF DWELLING VESSELS IN THE WATERS OF HONG KONG WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW (APRIL 13).

THE PROPOSALS ARE CONTAINED IN THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, PUBLISHED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY ISSUE OF THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.

UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE BEEN CONSULTED ON THE PROPOSALS, AND ALL THREE READINGS OF THE BILL WILL BE TAKEN AT ONE SITTING TOMORROW.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE MR PERCY DAVY, SAID THE 13 TYPHOON SHELTERS WERE PROVIDED FOR THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF WORKING CRAFT. BUT THE PRESENCE OF DWELLING VESSELS TENDED TO DENY SHELTER TO SUCH CRAFT, WHILE INCREASING THE NUMBER AND SIZE OF THE TYPHOON SHELTERS REQUIRED.

+THE CONGLOMERATION OF DWELLING VESSELS INSIDE VARIOUS TYPHOON SHELTERS, WHICH ARE FAIRLY CONGESTED EVEN IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS, RESULTS IN INSUFFICIENT FIRE LANES AND MAKES IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR LICENSED WORKING CRAFT TO GAIN ACCESS, HE SAID. +AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE DWELLING VESSELS THEMSELVES ARE OFTEN SAFETY, FIRE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND HYGIENE HAZARDS.+

AT PRESENT A TOTAL OF ABOUT 2 700 DWELLING VESSELS ARE FOUND IN NINE OF THE 13 TYPHOON SHELTERS AND IN SEVEN SHELTERED BAYS WHICH COULD BE USED BY FISHING VESSELS. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS THE NUMBER OF DWELLING VESSELS IN TYPHOON SHELTERS ALONE HAS GROWN BY SOME 18 PER CENT.

+TO FACILITATE EFFICIENT USE AND MANAGEMENT OF TYPHOON SHELTERS AND TO REMOVE THE HAZARDS POSED BY DWELLING VESSELS, THE NUMBERS OF THESE BOATS MUST BE REDUCED, MR DAVY SAID.

+HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED, THIS WILL BE DONE IN THE LONG TERM, + HE STRESSED. IN THE MEANTIME, STEPS WILL NEED TO BE TAKEN TO PREVENT THE FURTHER PROLIFERATION OF DWELLING VESSELS IN THE SHELTERS,+

THE BILL ENABLES REGULATIONS TO BE MADE FOR THE DECLARATION OF ANY PART OF HONG KONG WATERS AS AN AREA WITHIN WHICH NO DWELLING VESSEL MAY ENTER OR REMAIN.

A NEW LICENSING SYSTEM WILL BE INTRODUCED WHEREBY VESSELS WILL BE PERMITTED TO MOOR ONLY AT DESIGNATED LOCATIONS INSIDE SPECIFIED TYPHOON SHELTERS AND IN OTHER AREAS. DWELLING VESSELS ALREADY MOORED THERE WHEN THE NEW LEGISLATION COMES INTO OPE: ATION WILL HAVE THEIR PARTICULARS REGISTERED AND WILL BE LICENSED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. ALL OTHER VESSEL'S WILL BE PREVENTED FROM ENTERING OR REMAINING AT THESE DESIGNATED LOCATIONS OR TAKING UP VACANT MOORING SPACES.

/A LICENCE