XN000022-1992-01-10 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1992

SPECIAL MARINE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR FESTIVE FIREWORKS DISPLAY

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO IMPLEMENT SPECIAL MARINE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN VICTORIA HARBOUR TO FACILITATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FIREWORKS DISPLAY ON FEBRUARY 5 THIS YEAR.

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (JANUARY 10), THE PRINCIPAL MARINE OFFICER (LOCAL SERVICES) OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, MR CHENG PAK-KWAN SAID:

"THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN VICTORIA PARAMOUNT BUT WE MUST ALLOW A SITUATION WHERE THE GENERAL ENJOY THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON."

HARBOUR IS

PUBLIC CAN

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MR CHENG SAID AN ACCEPTABLE BALANCE MUST BE MADE NEED FOR MARINE SAFETY AND THE NEED FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC то ENJOY THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY.

HE STRESSED THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF MARINE SAFETY IS SPEED AND THEREFORE, ALL VESSELS NAVIGATING IN VICTORIA HARBOUR AREA SHALL PROCEED AT A SAFETY SPEED WHICH SHOULD NOT.. GENERALLY EXCEED FIVE KNOTS FROM 7.45 PM TO 9 PM ON FEBRUARY 5.

MR CHENG SAID FROM 7.45 PM TO 8.45 PM THAT NIGHT ALL SCHEDULED FERRY SERVICES USING THE CENTRAL HARBOUR WOULD BE SUSPENDED.

THE SPECIAL MARINE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS TO BE IMPLEMENTED ON FEBRUARY 5 ARE AS FOLLOWS:

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FROM 7.45 PM TO 9 PM, ALL VESSELS NAVIGATING IN VICTORIA HARBOUR AREA BETWEEN GREEN ISLAND AND LEI YUE MUN SIIALL PROCEED AT A SAFE SPEED WHICH SHOULD NOT GENERALLY EXCEED FIVE KNOTS. EVERY VESSEL SHALL AT ALL TIMES MAINTAIN A PROPER LOOK-OUT.

FROM 7.45 PM TO 8.45 PM, ALL SCHEDULED FERRY SERVICES USING THE CENTRAL HARBOUR WILL BE SUSPENDED.

IN

A CLOSED AREA ENCOMPASSING THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY BARGES CENTRAL HARBOUR WILL BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN 2 PM ΤΟ 9 PM DURING THE PERIOD, THE AREA WILL BE CLOSED ΤΟ ALL MARINE TRAFFIC EXCEPT MARINE POLICE, MARINE AND FIRE SERVICES PATROL LAUNCHES, CRAFT DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN FIREWORKS DISPLAY AND OTHER VESSELS APPROVED BY DIRECTOR OF MARINE.

THE

THE

MASTERS, OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF SMALL VESSELS PARTICULARLY VESSELS WITH NO DECKING, ARE RECOMMENDED NOT TO PROCEED INTO OR REMAIN IN THE CENTRAL HARBOUR AREA BETWEEN 7 PM AND 9 PM IN AREA OF HIGH TRAFFIC DENSITY, SUCH VESSELS ARE VULNERABLE TO THE WASH FROM LARGER VESSELS AND ARE OFTEN NOT EASILY DETECTED FROM LARGER HIGHER FREEBOARD VESSELS.

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