XN000022-1992-07-07 — Page 9

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1992

WORKING GROUP TO TACKLE DREDGING PROBLEMS

* * * * *

A WORKING GROUP COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND FISHERMEN WILL BE SET UP ΤΟ ADDRESS PROBLEMS ARISING FROM DREDGING ACTIVITIES AROUND THE NINEPIN ISLANDS,

THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (FISHERIES) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, DR YIP KAE-SANG, AFTER A MEETING WITH FISHERMEN'S REPRESENTATIVES THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING.

THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WAS TO ESTABLISH A DIALOGUE WITH THE FISHERMEN WHOSE LIVELIHOOD WAS SAID TO BE AFFECTED BY THE DREDGING WORKS, DR YIP SAID.

"WE HAVE A FRANK EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON THE MATTER. THE FISHERMEN'S REPRESENTATIVES HAVE POINTED OUT HOW THE DREDGING WORKS WILL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AFFECT THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

"ON THE GOVERNMENT PART, WE HAVE EXPLAINED TO THEM WHY THE DREDGING WORKS HAD TO BE CARRIED OUT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

"

ON CLAIMS AND COMPENSATION, DR YIP SAID NO FORMAL CLAIMS HAD BEEN MADE SO FAR AND THE FISHERMEN WERE ASKED TO PUT UP SUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS.

IT WAS AGREED THAT A WORKING GROUP WILL BE SET UP MORE INFORMATION ON THE EXTENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE ACTIVITIES ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF FISHERMEN.

GROUP

ΤΟ GATHER DREDGING

AT A PREPARATORY MEETING FOR THE WORKING GROUP IN THE AFTERNOON, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE WORKING

WOULD COMPRISE FISHERMEN'S REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL AS OFFICERS FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY AND NEW ADMINISTRATION.

TERRITORIES

THE WORKING GROUP WILL REFLECT FISHERMEN'S VIEWS TO THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE STOPPING OF DREDGING AROUND NINEPIN ISLANDS OR ON WAYS TO MINIMISE THE IMPACT OF DREDGING OPERATIONS.

IT WILL STUDY THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE DREDGING WORKS AND TO SEE THAT MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN BY DREDGING COMPANIES ΤΟ ENSURE THE SAFETY OF FISHERMEN WORKING IN THE AREA.

THE WORKING GROUP WILL ALSO BE TASKED WITH GIVING SUGGESTIONS ON A FAIR AND EQUITABLE METHOD TO ASSESS CLAIMS OF FISHERMEN, INCLUDING MARICULTURALISTS.

ALSO ATTENDING THIS MORNING'S DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEVE BARCLAY AND OFFICERS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

MEETING WERE THE

FROM

EASTERN RELEVANT

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