XN000022-1984-10-31 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1984

An

5

COMMENTING ON THE DECISION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT A GREAT DEAL HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE TO ENHANCE SAFETY MEASURES AT THE PLANT SINCE CONSULTANTS HAD ASSESSED THE RISK FACTOR AT MAYFAIR GARDENS AS BEING ON THE BORDERLINE OF ACCEPTABILITY.

THE FURTHER SAFEGUARDS ALREADY INTRODUCED OR BEING IMPLEMENTED WERE MAINLY OF A TECHNICAL NATURE, RANGING FROM THE INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL WATER DRENCHING SYSTEMS TO MORE EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION WITH TANKERS DISCHARGING PRODUCTS AT THE MOBIL PIER.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE PLANT WAS REGULARLY INSPECTED BY THE GAS ADVISER'S OFFICE AND THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE STANDARDS WERE BEING MAINTAINED AND LICENCE CONDITIONS ADHERED TO.

HE SAID THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE AT THE PLANT WOULD BE WRITTEN INTO THE CONDITIONS OF LICENCES ISSUED UNDER THE DANGEROUS GOODS ORDINANCE.

+MOREOVER, AS TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES, SO WILL FRESH IMPROVEMENTS BE MADE AT THE PLANT.+

THE ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS FOLLOW A REVIEW BY A SPECIAL WORKING GROUP FORMED LAST JUNE, AT THE REQUEST OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TO CONSIDER WHAT COMBINATION OF MEASURES COULD BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE RISK FACTOR AT MAYFAIR GARDENS.

THE GROUP FIRST REPORTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 15. THE COUNCIL THEN RULED THAT THE PHASE 3 DEVELOPMENT OF MAYFAIR GARDENS, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSEST TO THE OIL INSTALLATION, SHOULD NOT PROCEED AND THAT AN ALTERNATIVE SITE SHOULD BE PROVIDED ELSEWHERE FOR THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT.

SINCE THEN, THE ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED BY THE COMPANY HAVE BEEN EXAMINED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSULTANTS TOGETHER WITH THE VIEWS SUBMITTED BY MOBIL.

+THE CONSULTANTS ADVISED THAT THE ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS, COUPLED WITH THE RELOCATIONS OF THE PHASE 3 DEVELOPMENT OF MAYFAIR GARDENS, HAD REDUCED THE RISK,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD WOULD BE INFORMED OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S DECISION AT THE BOARD'S REGULAR MEETING ON NOVEMBER 6.

MEANWHILE. THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING THOSE OF THE CONSULTANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH HAVE TERRITORY-WIDE IMPLICATIONS. ALL EXISTING AND FUTURE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS INSTALLATIONS, INCLUDING THE MOBIL PLANT, WILL BE EXAMINED IN THE LIGHT OF THESE OVERALL RECOMMENDATIONS.

16..