HONG KONG
Location of the Refinery
Five separate sites were considered at the time refinery project studies were previously undertaken in Hong Kong in the early 1970s. It is unlikely that the criteria used at that time, which pointed to a favoured site on Lamma Island, will have changed significantly, and they will therefore broadly be relevant to the present study.
However, the following comments are offered:
(i) The use of Chinese crudes (with loading port restrictions) may
not involve supply by VLCCS, though Middle East crudes would.
(ii)
Cremer and Warner, in their environmental study of the Shell refinery proposal, mention that they, in discussions with Government Departments and Shell, were unable to locate an alternative to the Lamma Island proposal which:
(a) provided such good access for a deep draught vessel
(b)
allowed a short jetty installation
(c)
did not directly affect any of the major beaches
(iii)
(3)
was adjacent to sufficient and suitable land on which to build a refinery.
Because of the waxy nature of. Chinese crude it is virtually impossible to store it underground. This may be an important factor in site selection if environmental constraints limit the number of crude storage tanks that can be constructed above ground.
(iv) Environmental factors may considerably escalate the cost of
building a refinery at any other location in the Territory.
Summary of Conclusions
1.
This report does not set out to promote or condemn a Hong Kong refinery project on purely economic grounds. On present evidence and prior to in-depth study, the following factors would need further investigation, and some at least would have to show distinctly favourable trends, before a refinery investment in Hong Kong could be positively advocated:
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