XN000022-1992-11-05 — Page 5

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1992

"AS AN AUTONOMOUS REGISTER, WE HAVE OBLIGATION TO LOOK TO THE

ARE CONDITION OF SHIPS ON OUR OWN REGISTER. IF WE FIND SHIPS

NOT UP TO STANDARD WE WILL HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT DEREGISTERING THEM.

"

AS A MAJOR PORT, HE SAID HONG KONG HAD AN OBLIGATION TO CHECK THE CONDITION OF VESSELS FLYING OTHER FLAGS.

CONCENTRATING OUR

"WE TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY MOST SERIOUSLY, EFFORTS ON OLDER VESSELS AND ENFORCING THE RULES IMPARTIALLY, EFFICIENTLY AND PRAGMATICALLY."

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"WE DO NOT WANT A RUST-BUCKET FLEET ON OUR OWN REGISTER, NOR WILL WE CONDONE UNSAFE CONDITIONS ON VESSELS FLYING OTHER FLAGS, MR MILLER SAID.

MORE

AND

HONG KONG WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PORTS IN THE WORLD TO HANDLE THAN SIX MILLION TEUS (20-FOOT EQUIVALENT UNITS) OF CONTAINERISED CARGO A YEAR AND SOME 130,000 OCEAN-GOING RIVER-TRADE VESSELS CALLED AT HONG KONG ANNUALLY AND LOADED AND DISCHARGED MORE THAN 100 MILLION TONNES OF CARGO.

MORE THAN 1,050 OCEAN-GOING SHIPS VISITING THE PORT OF HONG KONG ANNUALLY WERE SUBJECT TO PORT STATE CONTROL INSPECTION ΤΟ CHECK COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS.

THEY ARE, NAMELY, THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS AND THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF POLLUTION FROM SHIPS.

OF THESE, 10 PER CENT REQUIRED DEFICIENCIES

ΤΟ BE MADE GOOD

BEFORE THE SHIP COULD SAIL FROM HONG KONG.

COUNTRY PARKS BOARD OBJECTS GOLF COURSE PROPOSAL

AT ITS MEETING TODAY (THURSDAY), THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD DECIDED NOT TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL BY A PRIVATE DEVELOPER FOR THE USE OF 95 HECTARES OF COUNTRY PARKS LAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GOLF COURSE AT LUK KENG.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BOARD SAID: "THE VIEW WAS TAKEN HAVING REGARD TO THE SCOPE OF THE PROPOSED) DEVELOPMENT, THE CONCERN OVER CONSERVATION AND THE USE OF COUNTRY PARKS LAND.

THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WOULD INVOLVE ABOUT 130 HECTARES OF LAND OF WHICH 95 HECTARES WOULD BE LOCATED INSIDE PAT SIN LENG COUNTRY PARK.

OTHER ITEMS DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING INCLUDED ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO COUNTRYSIDE AND NATURE CONSERVATION, AS WELL AS TREE PLANTING IN THE TERRITORY.

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