XN000022-1994-03-02 — Page 61

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1994

RECLAMATION WORKS DO NOT AFFECT MARINE TRAFFIC

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AFFECT MR

THE CENTRAL AND WANCHAI RECLAMATION ACTIVITIES DO NOT THE SAFETY OF VESSEL TRAFFIC, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, GORDON SIU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THIS IS BECAUSE THE PROJECTS ARE CARRIED OUT OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL FAIRWAY, HENCE THE WIDTH OF THE FAIRWAY WILL NOT BE REDUCED.

HOWEVER, VESSEL TRAFFIC ALONG THE FAIRWAY HAS BECOME BUSIER AS THE AREA OF NAVIGABLE WATERWAY IS REDUCED OWING TO RECLAMATION, MR SIU SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ALBERT CHAN.

TO REDUCE THE IMPACT AND TO MAINTAIN EFFICIENCY OF NAVIGATION, MR SIU SAID

SAID THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAD CAREFULLY PRE-PLANNED RECLAMATION WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH RELEVANT WORKS DEPARTMENTS.

DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ARE SENT OUT TO CONTRACTORS TO UNDERTAKE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

THE DEPARTMENT CONSULTS AND GIVES ADVICE ΤΟ PILOTS, FERRY OPERATORS AND LOCAL VESSEL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER MAJOR PORT USERS.

IT HAS ALSO STEPPED UP HARBOUR PATROLS AND HAS MAINTAINED CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH ALL PARTIES. TWO ADDITIONAL PATROL LAUNCHES WILL BE DEPLOYED IN MAY.

MR SIU SAID IN VIEW OF THE LIKELY IMPACT ON MARINE TRAFFIC OF TERRITORY-WIDE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WOULD UNDERTAKE A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES.

THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

* CONDUCTING A FULL NAVIGATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR THE WHOLE

OF HONG KONG WATERS:

* IDENTIFYING MARINE

TRAFFIC BLACK SPOTS AND INDUSTRY

MALPRACTICES AND DEVISING APPROPRIATE CONTROL MEASURES; AND

* EXAMINING THE PORT AND WATERWAY LAYOUTS WITH A VIEW ΤΟ IDENTIFYING THE SAFEST, MOST ECONOMIC AND EFFICIENT MARINE TRAFFIC FLOW. AS PART OF THIS REVIEW, NEW FAIRWAYS AND ANCHORAGES IN THE WESTERN HARBOUR AREA WILL BE INTRODUCED LATER THIS YEAR.

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POLICE FIGHT TRIAD EXTORTION AT TWO LEVELS

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THE POLICE HAVE DEPLOYED CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES AT REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVELS TO FIGHT TRIAD EXTORTION OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LAU CHIN-SHEK THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN

"AT REGIONAL LEVEL, INTELLIGENCE-BASED OPERATIONS ARE MOUNTED USING UNDERCOVER OFFICERS IN OPERATIONS WHICH HAVE HAD CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS, MR ASPREY SAID.

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