XN000022-1992-08-23 — Page 5

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1992

"WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE MAN-MADE CAVERNS THEY ARE THE RIGHT SOLUTION.

USED IN FUTURE WHERE

"THIS ACCEPTANCE HAS BEEN HELPED BY INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS THAT HAVE NOW BEEN PUT IN PLACE BY THE GOVERNMENT," HE ADDED.

IN THIS DIRECTION, PLANNING GUIDELINES FOR ROCK CAVERN DEVELOPMENT HAVE NOW BEEN INCORPORATED IN THE GOVERNMENT TOWN PLANNING MANUAL, THE HONG KONG PLANNING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES, ΤΟ FACILITATE RELATED DEVELOPMENTS.

CONTROL OVER MARICULTURE OPERATIONS TIGHTENED * * * * *

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES LICENSING CONTROL OVER THE TERRITORY'S OCTOBER.

DEPARTMENT WILL TIGHTEN ITS MARICULTURE OPERATIONS FROM

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (SUNDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE DEPARTMENT MAY REFUSE TO RENEW OR CANCEL LICENCES WHERE THE LICENSING CONDITIONS UNDER THE MARINE FISH CULTURE ORDINANCE HAVE BEEN BREACHED.

"STARTING FROM OCTOBER 1, LICENCES WILL BE RENEWED ONLY IF ALL LICENCE SPECIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS ARE COMPLIED WITH.

"FOR ANY CONTRAVENTION IDENTIFIED, SUCH AS MAINTENANCE OF OVERSIZED STRUCTURES, WARNINGS WILL BE GIVEN AND A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME WILL BE ALLOWED FOR RECTIFICATION,

"

HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE MEASURE RESULTED FROM A RECENT REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT ON ITS POLICY REGARDING THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.

HE STRESSED THAT IN THE PAST THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING A NEW FISH CULTURE LICENCE, HAD RELIED UPON PROSECUTIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT AGAINST THE BREACHES OF THE LICENSING CONDITIONS.

CANCELLATION OR NON-RENEWAL OF LICENCES WOULD BE CONSIDERED ONLY AFTER TWO OR THREE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS, HE SAID.

"HOWEVER, THIS PRACTICE HAS BEEN USED BY SOME MARICULTURISTS AS AN EXCUSE FOR CONTINUING THE OFFENCE ON THE MISCONCEPTION THAT IT WAS TOLERATED BY THE LICENSING AUTHORITY," HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO CALLED ON THE MARICULTURISTS ΤΟ TAKE APPROPRIATE AND URGENT ACTIONS TO RECTIFY, WITHIN THE PERIOD GIVEN FOR RECTIFICATION, ANY BREACH OF THE LICENSING CONDITIONS, IN PARTICULAR THE NUMBER, DIMENSIONS AND USAGE OF STRUCTURES ON THE LICENSED RAFT AND THE SIZE OF THE LICENSED RAFT.

ENQUIRIES ON THIS ENFORCEMENT POLICY CAN BE DIRECTED ΤΟ DEPARTMENT'S AQUACULTURE REGULATORY AND MANAGEMENT SECTION 733 2182.

THE

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