XN000022-1985-11-27 — Page 57

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27,

1985

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FISHERMEN COMPLETE NAVIGATION TRAINING

****

A GROUP OF 11 FISHERMEN HAS COMPLETED AN INTENSIVE NAVIGATION TRAINING COURSE ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.

THE FOUR-MONTH FULL-TIME COURSE

THE 32ND HELD SINCE 1960,

IS DESIGNED TO HELP FISHERMEN NAVIGATE THEIR VESSELS CORRECTLY AND SAFELY.

SPEAKING AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (FISHERIES) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, DR CHRISTOPHER LEE, SAID THE LOCAL FISHING INDUSTRY RELIED MUCH ON OFFSHORE FISHING.

+A SOUND KNOWLEDGE OF NAVIGATION IS THEREFORE VERY IMPORTANT FOR FISHING VESSELS TO REACH THEIR FISHING GROUNDS CORRECTLY AND DIRECTLY AND FOR PROVIDING BETTER SAFETY TO BOTH VESSEL AND CREW,+ HE SAID.

DR LEE SAID THE DEPARTMENT STARTED PROVIDING FREE NAVIGATION TRAINING TO LOCAL FISHERMEN IN 1955 BY HOLDING SKIPPER CLASSES WHICH WERE REPLACED BY THE NAVIGATION COURSE IN 1960.

+THE NAVIGATION COURSE PROVIDES TRAINING ON CHART WORK, SEAMANSHIP, SIGNALLING AND DEAD RECKONING NAVIGATION AS WELL AS A KNOWLEDGE OF OPERATING SUCH ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AS THE ECHO SOUNDER AND THE SATELLITE NAVIGATOR, + HE SAID.

+

SO FAR, 296 FISHERMEN FROM 32 CLASSES HAVE COMPLETED THE NAVIGATION COURSE AND OBTAINED THE CERTIFICATES AWARDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

DR LEE LATER PRESENTED CERTIFICATES TO THE GRADUATING FISHERMEN.

TENDERS CALLED FOR STORAGE SITE *****

THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT TERM TENANCY OF A KOWLOON SITE OFF LUNG CHEUNG ROAD, NEAR TAI WOR PING.

THE SITE, ABOUT 3 020 SQUARE METRES, WILL BE USED FOR OPEN STORAGE.

#

TENANCY OF THE SITE IS FOR ONE YEAR, RENEWABLE MONTHLY THEREAFTER.

/CLOSING

+