XN000022-1996-02-05 — Page 13

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Mr Dale said his department had increasingly looked to advances in technology to improve the monitoring of ship movements and enable rapid responses to potential problem situations.

He pointed out that a number of factors had forged the Marine Department's strategy for maintaining the safety and efficiency of the port.

These included the demands of ever increasing cargo and passenger loads, developments around the harbour, increasing construction traffic and the growth of ports in China which must use Hong Kong waterways as access to their facilities, he said.

The station was jointly opened by a Legislative Councillor, Mr Albert Chan Wai-yip, and Mr Dale.

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HMS Plover to fire 21-gun salute

To mark the anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne, the Royal Navy will fire a 21-gun salute from HMS Plover at precisely 12 noon tomorrow (Tuesday) as she sails through Victoria Harbour.

When HMS Tamar moved from Prince of Wales Barracks to Stonecutters Island in 1993, gun salutes were fired from a site on the south shore of the island. However, the site was considered unsatisfactory because it was invisible to the public and it has since been developed because of preparatory work for the new naval base for the PLA Navy.

New saluting cannons have, therefore, been brought from the UK so that gun salutes can be fired from a seagoing warship in full view of much of the city.

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