XN000022-1985-09-25 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1985

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THE SPOKESMAN ALSO CONTRADICTED THE VIEW HELD BY SOME PEOPLE THAT A VESSEL MIGHT PROCEED AT ANY SPEED, PROVIDED IT WAS OUTSIDE A SPEED RESTRICTED ZONE, TYPHOON SHELTER OR VICTORIA HARBOUR. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA APPLIED TO ALL VESSELS WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS.

THESE REGULATIONS STATE THAT +EVERY VESSEL SHALL AT ALL TIMES PROCEED AT A SAFE SPEED SO THAT SHE CAN TAKE PROPER AND EFFECTIVE ACTION TO AVOID COLLISION AND BE STOPPED WITHIN A DISTANCE APPROPRIATE TO THE PREVAILING CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONDITIONS.+

HE SAID THAT IN DETERMINING A SAFE SPEED, THE FOLLOWING FACTORS SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT:

(1) THE STATE OF VISIBILITY,

(11) THE TRAFFIC DENSITY, INCLUDING CONCENTRATIONS OF FISHING

VESSELS OR ANY OTHER VESSELS,

(111) THE MANOEUVRABILITY OF THE VESSEL WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE

TO STOPPING DISTANCE AND TURNING ABILITY IN THE PREVAILING CONDITIONS,

(IV) AT NIGHT THE PRESENCE OF BACKGROUND LIGHT SUCH AS FROM

SHORE LIGHTS OR FROM BACK SCATTER OF HER OWN LIGHTS,

(V) THE STATE OF WIND, SEA AND CURRENT, AND THE PROXIMITY OF

NAVIGATIONAL HAZARDS,

(VI) THE DRAUGHT IN RELATION TO THE AVAILABLE DEPTH OF WATER.

SIR EDWARD TO OPEN FERRY TERMINAL BUILDING

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW HONG KONG-MACAU FERRY TERMINAL BUILDING IN SHEUNG WAN ON FRIDAY (SEPTEMBER 27).

ALSO ATTENDING THE CEREMONY WILL BE THE MACAU GOVERNOR, REAR ADMIRAL VASCO DE ALMEIDA E COSTA,

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO COVER THE EVENT SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE BUILDING BY 3.15 PM ON FRIDAY. PRESS BADGES WILL BE ISSUED AND GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST. PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN ARE ADVISED TO BRING ALONG TELEPHOTO LENSES.

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