XN000022-1994-01-26 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1994

STRICT CONTROL OVER USE OF MID-STREAM OPERATION ZONE

THE ADMINISTRATION WILL MONITOR AND CONTROL THE USE OF MID- STREAM OPERATION ZONE IN AREA 16 OF TUEN MUN SO THAT THERE WILL BE AS LITTLE ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AS IS POSSIBLE.

MR

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, GORDON SIU, WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON TSO SHIU-WAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR SIU SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD RIGOROUSLY ENFORCE THE LEASE CONDITIONS OF THE SITE, IN THE FACE OF LOCAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIALLY ADVERSE IMPLICATIONS OF USING AREA 16.

THE SECRETARY SAID THE SITE WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICES.

"IF THE ADMINISTRATION COULD FIND OTHER SUITABLE SITES IN THE WEST NEW TERRITORIES, WE WOULD NOT HAVE LOOKED TO TUEN MUN FOR HELP.

"IF WE COULD FIND A BETTER SITE IN TUEN MUN FOR TEMPORARY USE WE WOULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN AREA 16, HE SAID.

THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS THAT THE TEMPORARY USE OF THE SITE GENERATE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC ON ALREADY CONGESTED ROADS, CREATE IN THE AREA AND ADVERSELY AFFECT SAFETY WITHIN THE TYPHOON

WILL NOISE SHELTER.

MR SIU SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD:

* PROHIBIT DIRECT LAND ACCESS TO AND FROM THE SITE BY VEHICLES. CARGO WILL ONLY BE TRANSPORTED BY SEA, KEEPING ADDITIONAL LOADS OFF THE EXISTING HIGHWAY;

* PROHIBIT WORK AT THE SITE OUTSIDE PRESCRIBED HOURS. THERE WILL BE NO NIGHT-TIME NOISE. PATROLLING WATCHMEN WILL BE DEPLOYED TO MONITOR THIS;

# INSIST THAT THE OPERATOR ADOPTS SPECIFIC NOISE MITIGATION MEASURES TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; AND

* STEP UP MANAGEMENT OF THE WATERS WITHIN THE TYPHOON SHELTER TO DEAL WITH THE SMALL AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL MARINE TRAFFIC.

REGARDING

MARINE TRAFFIC, MR SIU SAID THEY ENVISAGED THAT THE OPERATION OF THE SITE WOULD GENERATE ABOUT 10 BARGE TRIPS EACH DAY.

"THIS IS WELL WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LIMITS.

+

HE SAID THE BARGES USING THE SITE WOULD BE CONFINED ΤΟ THE WESTERN FAIRWAY AND WESTERN ENTRANCE TO THE TYPHOON SHELTER, THUS MINIMISING CONFLICT WITH OTHER VESSELS.

IN ADDITION, THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE WILL STEP UP TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE TYPHOON SHELTER BY DEMARCATING THE ANCHORAGE AREA TO SEPARATE BARGES AND FISHING VESSELS.

**THIS SHOULD AVOID CONFLICT BOTH DURING NORMAL WEATHER AND DURING TYPHOONS," HE ADDED.

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