ENG-1995 — Page 165

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Hong Kong used 22 million tonnes of aggregates and other rock products in 1995. About 43 per cent of the territory's demand for aggregates and rock products was met locally, with the balance imported from China.

Six quarrying contracts were under way and a kaolin mine was operating under a mining lease in 1995. Negotiations are being carried out with the operators of the quarries at Anderson Road and Lamma Island to rehabilitate the sites. They will be rehabilitated within a defined period, in return for the granting of rights to the quarry operators to process and sell surplus rock excavated during the course of the works. The rehabilitation works involve recontouring and extensive planting to blend with the surrounding hillsides in accordance with the guidelines set down in the Metroplan Landscape Strategy for the Urban Fringe and Coastal Area.

In the past year, the division managed three government explosives depots which provided bulk storage facilities for imported and locally-manufactured explosives. It undertakes the delivery of explosives from the depots to blasting sites. It also issues shotfirers' blasting certificates.

The largest use of explosives during the year was for site formation works for the new airport project. A government explosives depot is in operation at the airport site on Chek Lap Kok Island to ensure uninterrupted supply for site preparation work. Explosives were also used in Hong Kong for quarrying works, sewerage tunnel construction and seismic surveys. The overall consumption of explosives was 10 250 tonnes.

The division is responsible for issuing storage licences and removal permits and provides technical support to the Recreation and Culture Branch in assessing the suitability of pyrotechnics and pyrotechnicians. In 1995, there were 24 applications for the use of pyrotechnics in the production of television programmes and theatrical performances.

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10 EDUCATION