Mr Patten was told that with the recent approval by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council of $50.4 million, the department will embark on its plans to modernise its refuse collection and scavenging fleet.
"We will be placing orders to buy six new purpose-built vessels to modernise and expand our existing scavenging fleet," Mr Dale said.
"The new craft, about 20 metres in length and capable of steaming at 13 knots, will be fitted with mechanical scoop refuse containers and able to perform scavenging services in remote areas," he said.
"Two of the new craft will each be fitted with a motorised dinghy, enabling them to collect floating refuse at littoral areas," Mr Dale added.
The department has plans to hire 29 additional commercial vessels including five motorised cargo boats and 18 motorised sampans for collection of ship refuse and another three motorised cargo boats and three motorised sampans for scavenging.
The department currently operates seven specialised scavenging vessels and employs 26 commercial vessels to collect domestic refuse from ships in the Victoria Harbour and for scavenging services.
In addition, it hires three commercial vessels to collect refuse from local craft in typhoon shelters in Aberdeen, Causeway Bay and Shau Ki Wan and Yau Ma Tei.
Mr Patten was told that the department's pollution control unit has identified ways to enhance its efficiency in collecting marine refuse. Among these new initiatives are the setting up of four new marine refuse collection points at strategic locations in Tsing Yi, Tuen Mun, Sai Kung and Tai Po.
"These new collection points and the existing ones located in Causeway Bay and Cha Kwo Ling will be fitted with cranes to facilitate lifting of marine refuse from the scavenging and collection vessels," Mr Dale said.
On fulfilling Hong Kong's international obligation to eliminate pollution by garbage from occan-going vessels, Mr Date said that Hong Kong will fully discharge its duties under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ship 1973 and the Protocol of 1978.
The department would deploy an addition of 23 vessels of various sizes in this area of our services to the port, Mr Dale added.
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