XN000022-1991-11-11 — Page 3

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1991

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"IT IS THE SUCCESS OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF HONG KONG, THE AIRMEN; THE SEAMEN; THE NURSES; THE AMBULANCE DRIVERS; THE POLICEMEN ON CROWD CONTROL DUTIES; THE FOKIS AT THE MARINERS' CLUB AND THE MANY OTHERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN SOME WAY LARGE OR SMALL

IT IS то THEM THAT BELONGS THE TRUE GLORY OF ACHIEVEMENT".

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THE THREE OFFICERS WILL RECEIVE THEIR GOVERNOR'S COMMENDATIONS AT THE CEREMONY OF PRESENTATION OF INSIGNIA AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 13).

MR MILLER ELABORATED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S ROLE: "MARINE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CO-ORDINATING ALL MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS WITHIN 400,000 SQUARE MILES OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY WHICH WE HAVE ACCEPTED

WILLINGLY,

"STAFF OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT'S MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE CO-ORDINATION CENTRE MAN THE CENTRE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND ARE FULLY TRAINED, AS THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE VARIOUS OTHER DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT WHICH ALSO TAKE PART IN SUCH RESCUES.

"WE WORK CONSISTENTLY TO IMPROVE OUR ABILITIES BY LIAISON OTHER SEARCH AND RESCUE AGENCIES ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD AND KEEPING ABREAST OF THE LATEST TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY."

WITH BY

MR MILLER NOTED THAT, IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEW GLOBAL MARITIME DISTRESS AND SAFETY SYSTEM (GMDSS) WHICH WILL COME INTO FORCE IN FEBRUARY NEXT (1992) YEAR, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS COMMISSIONED A NAVIGATION BROADCAST .INFORMATION SERVICE CALLED "NAVTEX" AND THE FIRST LOCAL USER TERMINAL OF A SATELLITE RECEIVING SYSTEM FOR LOCATING EMERGENCY POSITION INDICATING RADIO BEACONS CARRIED BY SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT.

"THE FINAL STAGE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SPECIALISED COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM WAS THE PLACING OF A $20 MILLION ORDER FOR THE NECESSARY RADIO EQUIPMENT TO BE INSTALLED IN THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WITH A TARGET DATE OF OPERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR, HE SAID.

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MR MILLER ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE CAPTAIN AND SIX OFFICERS A PANAMANIAN-REGISTERED BULK CARRIER ALL HONG KONG RESIDENTS WOULD BE THE FIRST SUCH SEAFARERS TO BE AWARDED THE EXTENDED DIRECTOR OF MARINE'S AWARDS FOR ACTS OF BRAVERY OUTSIDE HONG KONG WATERS LATER THIS (1991) YEAR.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE APPALLING WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVALENT AT THE TIME, THE CAPTAIN AND CREW OF THE SHIP "GREAT NANCY" PARTICIPATED IN THE RESCUE OPERATION OF THE GREEK LINER "OCEANOS" OFF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COAST ON AUGUST 3 AND 4 THIS YEAR AND SUCCESSFULLY SAVED 188 PASSENGERS AND CREW FROM 'OCEANOS"

FI

THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE HAS PRESENTED AWARDS FOR BRAVERY AT FOR A CONSIDERABLE PERIOD OF TIME AND THIS ANNUAL AWARD SCHEME BEEN LIMITED TO INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN HONG KONG WATERS.

SEA

HAS

/HOWEVER THE