ENG-1979 — Page 98

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Mining

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Under the Mining Ordinance, the Crown has the ownership and control of minerals. The Land Officer is empowered to grant mining leases and the Commissioner of Mines to grant mining and prospecting licences. Details of leases and licences in operation are published twice a year in the Government Gazette. At the end of the year, two mining leases, five mining licences and two prospecting licences were valid for different areas.

Kaolin, feldspar and quartz are mined by opencast methods. Most of the feldspar is exported to Taiwan, while the quartz and kaolin are consumed by local industries.

The Mines Division of the Labour Department enforces legislation and safety regulations relating to mining and explosives. It processes mining and prospecting applications; inspects mining and prospecting areas, stone quarries, blasting sites and explosives stores; and issues shotfirers' blasting certificates. The division also controls the possession, con- veyance, storage, manufacture and use of explosives in Hong Kong, including the delivery of explosives from government depots to blasting sites. In addition, it manages government explosives depots that provide bulk storage facilities for explosives imported into Hong Kong.

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Towards the end of the year, the government explosives depot on Green Island, situated off the western tip of Hong Kong Island, was moved to a new location on Stonecutters Island. Explosives stocks at the High Island depot were being reduced gradually to prepare for its closure early in 1980. Although overall storage capacity will be con- siderably reduced, the opening of a new commercial explosives factory on Stonecutters Island in early 1980 will ensure a steady supply of explosives to the construction industry. The consumption of 6,870 tonnes of explosives during the year was the highest ever recorded.-

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