XN000022-1996-01-08 — Page 47

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The

* Upgrading the capacity of the Vessel Traffic System coverage.

programme aims to introduce an additional manned workstation at the Vessel Traffic Centre by mid-1997 to cater for the increase in traffic from the Pearl River Delta; radio direction-finding capacities for western approaches by the end of 1997; and a dedicated radar for the Mirs Bay area for commissioning in late 1998.

* Extending pilotage coverage to the southern limits of the East Lamma

Channel by establishing a pilot station at Round Island in late 1996; and

Augmenting patrol functions to monitor small vessel movements by a phased extension of operating hours from 1996 to 1998 and through the establishment of additional local marine traffic control centres at conflict areas such as the entrance to the Kwai Chung container port in 1998 and Green Island in 1999. Older patrol craft will be replaced.

Mr Liu estimated the overall cost of the programme at some $200 million over five years.

End

Water storage figure

Storage in Hong Kong's reservoirs at 9 am today (Monday) stood at 81.7 cent of capacity or 478.546 million cubic metres.

per

This time last year the reservoirs contained 420.642 million cubic metres of water, representing 71.8 per cent of capacity.

End

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