XN000022-1988-12-14 — Page 35

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1988

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ON THE REASONS FOR THE PREDOMINANCE OF OVERSEAS

OFFICERS IN

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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, THE WORKING GROUP FOUND THAT WHILE THERE IS A CONSTANT INTAKE OF LOCAL COUNSEL AT THE ENTRY RANK MAINLY THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT LEGAL TRAINING SCHEME IT IS DIFFICULT TO RETAIN THEM BEYOND AN INITIAL PERIOD OF SERVICE.

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THIS IS LARGELY BECAUSE PAY AND BENEFITS FOR LAWYERS AT ALI. LEVELS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE COMPARE UNFAVOURABLY WITH REWARDS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

SECONDLY, DISAPPOINTMENT ARISES WHEN JUNIOR LOCAL COUNSEL FAIL IN COMPETITION FOR PROMOTION BECAUSE OF THE GREATER EXPERIENCE OF

OVERSEAS COUNSEL.

FUNDS FOR BUILDING MARINE POLLUTION INVESTIGATION VESSEL

* * * * *

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A SUM OF $8.8 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PURPOSE-DESIGNED VESSEL TO CARRY OUT PROPERLY AND SAFELY MARINE POLLUTION MONITORING AND INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES.

THIS PURPOSE-DESIGNED VESSEL WOULD REPLACE THE EXISTING 28-YEAR-OLD GENERAL-PURPOSE VESSEL WHICH WAS TRANSFERRED то THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) IN 1986.

AT PRESENT, THE EPD CARRIES OUT A COMPREHENSIVE MARINE MONITORING PROGRAMME WHICH COVERS SAMPLING AT 73 AMBIENT WATER QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS, 53 BOTTOM SEDIMENT STATIONS, 13 TYPHOON SHELTER STATIONS AND 60 BEACH WATER QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS.

THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF MARINE INVESTIGATIONS SUCH AS SURVEILLANCE OF RED TIDES AND SURVEYS OF

FLOATING REFUSE.

OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, IT IS LIKELY THAT ALL THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF HONG KONG WILL BE DECLARED WATER CONTROL ZONES.

THIS WILL LEAD TO A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE WORKLOAD OF THE MARINE POLLUTION INVESTIGATION VESSEL AS THE EXISTING MONITORING INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAMME WILL NEED TO BE EXPANDED AND INTENSIFIED TO COVER THE NEW ZONES.

THE REPLACEMENT VESSEL WILL DE EQUIPPED WITH FULL OFFSHORE CAPABILITY, A SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR IN-SITU ANALYSES OF WATER SAMPLES, COLD STORAGE FACILITIES FOR WATER AND BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES, FACILITIES FOR OVERNIGHT SURVEYS AND WINCH AND DERRICK SYSTEMS.

THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE VESSEL IS EXPECTED TO START IN 1989-90, ENABLING IT TO BE COMMISSIONED IN MID-1991.

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