XN000022-1997-04-15 — Page 11

The MARAD Strategy Study concluded that the safety of Hong Kong waters is comparable to other major ports in the world.

"Blueprint drawings had been prepared to illustrate the MARAD Strategy Study findings and to provide a first point of reference for the evaluation of future development plans, and the need to reserve water areas to meet future port development needs and growth in marine traffic," Mr Dale added.

Mr Dale said, "One of the main issues is to recognise the shift in marine based activities to the west to support the continued growth in operations.

"Equally in the north west New Territories, port development opportunities may well develop as a result of the possible creation of the Tonggu Channel."

He further noted that the MARAD Strategy Study summarised the derived MARAD Strategy centring on the Marine Department to take a more proactive role in the operation and management of Hong Kong waters by working towards five directions.

These include an optimisation of the throughput at existing facilities to provide more flexibility in cargo allocation and reduced travel distances and the decentralisation of marine traffic away from the core areas to reduce risk and the congestion of marine traffic.

Mr Dale said: "The third one is the training of staff at all levels within the Vessel Traffic Control Centre including the officers of patrol launches proposed under the strategy and the retention of the trained personnel with the section.

"Control of vessel movement by taking a more proactive role in the planning of vessel routing, monitoring of anchorages and direction of patrol craft features another direction.

"Last but not the least, it is the enforcement through, if necessary increased prosecution, but generally by increased presence on the waters and the offering of advice and direction by the suitably trained patrol launch officers."

Taking into account of the present heavy use of Hong Kong waters for commercial and trading activities as well as the high growth rates in cargo throughput and vessel movements, the Marine Department commissioned Au Posford Consultants Ltd. to conduct the MARAD Strategy Study in September 1995 in association with the port of Rotterdam, Risk Control Analysts and Axis Environmental. It was completed in January this year.