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fore, little positive preventive action is possible. Nevertheless, the Marine Department has adopted the following measures with a view to preventing oil pollution and therefore in effect minimizing the hazard to swimming areas:-
(i) the delineation of routes for oil tankers into and out of the Port of Hong Kong;
(ii) the establishment of a communications link by the inauguration at the Marine Department of a V.H.F. Port Operations Services designed to improve safety of navigation within Colony waters amongst other things; and the establishment of a centralized communications centre to house the Marine Department's Port Communications Unit;
(iii) the introduction of a "Code of Practice for Dealing with Oil Pollution" so that, whenever pollution occurs, the oil spillages are immediately attacked and if possible contained at their source, thus minimizing the hazard to swimming areas.
In this connection, 10,000 gallons of emulsifiers are at present on order by the Marine Department. The suitability of oil spillage booms for use by both the Urban Services Department and the Marine Department is presently being determined. It is intended to provide 3,000 feet of those booms in the first instance.
The second part of this question asks whether the department has studied what precautions are taken in other countries. Hong Kong, by reason of its membership, through the Marine Department, of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (a U.N. agency), is keeping abreast of the latest developments and thinking on oil pollution. The Sub-Committee of I.M.C.O. dealing with the problem of oil pollution at sea is active in its deliberations and some recent matters which have been discussed and acted upon have included such items as:
(i) Amendments to the Oil Pollution Convention, including:
(a) Limitations on the amount of oil which can be discharged by vessels outside the prohibited areas;
(b) Expansion of the conditions under which ships' personnel must complete their "Oil Record Book".
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(ii) Preparation of draft convention articles relating to civil liability for oil pollution damage, including compulsory insurance schemes for oil tanker owners and operators.
The Urban Services Department in this matter works in close liaison with the Marine Department and is kept well informed and advised by the latter on matters concerning oil pollution and methods of dispersal.
The third part of the question asks whether oil companies and other interested parties have been consulted by the department as to the latest techniques used elsewhere. The answer is, "No," but the Marine Department has consulted them and my Department is aware that oil companies are extremely conscious of the hazards attendant upon the movement and storage of oil. In this connection, the large oil companies employ their own research organization, which quite often combine together to consider various aspects of oil properties and the preparation of scientific papers which are read before technical organizations. A recent journal included a paper prepared by representatives of various petroleum companies and research centres to discuss the physical, chemical and biological processes which may operate on crude oil after it has been spilled at sea.
Other papers have included:
(i) An "Analysis of Beach Pollutions"
(ii) An "Identification of Petroleum Sources of Beach Pollution by Gas Liquid Chromatography"
(iii) "The Formation and Stability of Emulsions of water in Crude Petroleum and Similar Stocks" and
(iv) "Problems in dealing with Oil Pollution on Sea and Land".
Copies of some of these papers have been studied by the departments concerned and taken into account in drawing up the Code of Practice; and regard will continue to be paid to the results of further research as they become available.
The fourth part of the question asks whether the department has instigated any steps to ensure that the mooring of oil tankers is controlled and isolated. The answer is again "No": the control of vessels carrying dangerous goods, including petroleum products, is provided for under the Dangerous Goods (Shipping) Regulations, Cap. 295, and
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... (removed as per instruction to not add or remove words, but the page numbering indicates the text continues)Page 62 of 237
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fore, little positive preventive action is possible. Never- theless, the Marine Department has adopted the following measures with a view to preventing oil pollution and therefore in effect minimizing the hazard to swimming
areas:-
(i) the delineation of routes for oil tankers into and out
of the Port of Hong Kong;
(ii) the establishment of a communications link by the inauguration at the Marine Department of a V.H.F. Port Operations Services designed to improve safety of navigation within Colony waters amongst other things; and the establishment of a centralized com- munications centre to house the Marine Department's Port Communications Unit;
(iii) the introduction of a "Code of Practice for Dealing with Oil Pollution" so that, whenever pollution occurs, the oil spillages are immediately attacked and if possible contained at their source, thus mini- mizing the hazard to swimming areas.
In this con- nection, 10,000 gallons of emulsifiers are at present on order by the Marine Department. The suitability of oil spillage booms for use by both the Urban Services Department and the Marine Department is presently being determined. It is intended to pro- vide 3,000 feet of those booms in the first instance.
The second part of this question asks whether the department has studied what precautions are taken in other countries. Hong Kong by reason of its membership, through the Marine Department, of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (a U.N. agency), is keeping abreast of the latest developments and thinking on oil pollution. The Sub-Committee of I.M.C.O. dealing with the problem of oil pollution at sea is active in its delibera- tions and some recent matters which have been discussed and acted upon have included such items as:
www.
(i) Amendments to the Oil Pollution Convention, in-
cluding:
(a) Limitations on the amount of oil which can be discharged by vessels outside the prohibited
areas;
(b) Expansion of the conditions under which ships' personnel must complete their "Oil Record Book".
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
105
(ii) Preparation of draft convention articles relating to civil liability for oil pollution damage, including compulsory insurance schemes for oil tanker owners and operators.
The Urban Services Department in this matter works in close liaison with the Marine Department and is kept well in- formed and advised by the latter on matters concerning oil pollution and methods of dispersal.
The third part of the question asks whether oil companies and other interested parties have been consulted by the department as to the latest techniques used elsewhere. The answer is, "No," but the Marine Department has consulted them and my Department is aware that oil companies are extremely conscious of the hazards attend- ant upon the movement and storage of oil. In this connection, the large oil companies employ their own research organization, which quite often combine to- gether to consider various aspects of oil properties and the preparation of scientific papers which are read before technical organizations. A recent journal included a paper prepared by representatives of various petroleum companies and research centres to discuss the physical, chemical and biological processes which may operate on crude oil after it has been spilled at sea.
Other papers
have included I am informed:
(i) An "Analysis of Beach Pollutions"
(ii) An "Identification of Petroleum Sources of Beach
Pollution by Gas Liquid Chromatography"
(iii) "The Formation and Stability of Emulsions of water
in Crude Petroleum and Similar Stocks" and
(iv) "Problems in dealing with Oil Pollution on Sea and
Land".
Copies of some of these papers have been studied by the de- partments concerned and taken into account in drawing up the Code of Practice; and regard will continue to be paid to the results of further research as they become available.
The fourth part of the question asks whether the department has instigated any steps to ensure that the mooring of oil tankers is controlled and isolated. The answer is again "No": the control of vessels carrying dangerous goods, including petroleum products, is provided for under the Dangerous Goods (Shipping) Regulations, Cap. 295, and
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