XN000022-1993-08-06 — Page 5

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1993

STRICT MEASURES MAINTAINED FOR EXPLOSIVES

STRICT SAFETY MEASURES RELATING TO EXPLOSIVES ARE MAINTAINED IN HONG KONG IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT STRESSED TODAY (FRIDAY).

"THE DEPARTMENT'S MINKS AND QUARRIES DIVISION HAS OVER 26 YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN THE HANDLING OF EXPLOSIVES. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTAL EXPLOSION ARISING FROM STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION OF EXPLOSIVES DURING THAT TIME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SAFETY MEASURES MAINTAINED INCLUDED PROPER PACKAGING, SEPARATION OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS, PROHIBITION OF SMOKING AND FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES.

SAFE DISTANCES ARE MAINTAINED FROM OTHER FACILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARDS LAID DOWN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM EXPLOSIVES ACT.

WORK IS PROCEEDING ON A PLAN TO MOVE THE MAIN GOVERNMENT EXPLOSIVES DEPOT ON STONECUTTERS ISLAND TO KAU SHAT WAN ON LANTAU IN EARLY 1997.

THE EXPLOSIVES STORED ON STONECUTTERS ISLAND AND IN A MUCH SMALLER DEPOT AT PIPERS HILL, TAI PO, ARE DELIVERED TO BLASTING SITES BY THE MINES AND QUARRIES DIVISION IN SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED EXPLOSIVĖS VESSELS AND TRUCKS UNDER STRICT SUPERVISION.

THE UNITED KINGDOM ROAD TRAFFIC (CARRIAGE OF EXPLOSIVES) REGULATIONS AND THE ASSOCIATED CODE OF PRACTICE ARE STRICTLY FOLLOWED.

PRACTICALLY ALL THE EXPLOSIVES CONSUMED IN HONG KONG ARE USED

IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID,

TWO MAIN TYPES OF EXPLOSIVES ARE USED. THEY ARE BULK EXPLOSIVES SUCH AS AMMONIUM NITRATE MIXTURES (ANFO) AND CARTRIDGED EXPLOSIVES.

THE AMMONIUM NITRATE USED IN ANFO IS CONTROLLED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES.

BULK EXPLOSIVES ARE MANUFACTURED LOCALLY UNDER A LICENCE GRANTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF MINES FOR USE ON THE SAME DAY. NO OVERNIGHT STORAGE IS PERMITTED.

THE MINES AND QUARRIES DIVISION CARRIES OUT REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF THE LOCAL MANUFACTURING PLANTS,

SOME CARTRIDGED EXPLOSIVES ARE MANUFACTURED IN HONG KONG IN A LICENCED FACTORY ON STONECUTTERS ISLAND. OVERNIGHT STORAGE OF CARTRIDGED EXPLOSIVES IS PERMITTED, BUT ONLY AT GOVERNMENT EXPLOSIVE DEPOTS AND LICENCED MAGAZINES.

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