ENG-1996 — Page 181

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Hong Kong used 26 million tonnes of aggregates and other rock products in 1996. About 7.3 per cent of the territory's demand for aggregates and rock products was met locally, with the balance imported from China.

Three quarrying contracts and two quarry rehabilitation contracts were under way and one kaolin mine was operating under a mining lease in 1996. Negotiations for a third rehabilitation contract are progressing. The rehabilitation contracts require the operators to rehabilitate the quarries within a defined period, in return for the granting of rights 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.

Over the past year, the division continued to manage two 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 and issues shot-firer certificates.

The largest use of explosives during the year was for site formation works and tunnel construction for the airport core projects and for quarrying works. The overall consumption of explosives was 3 900 tonnes.

The division is responsible for issuing storage licences and removal permits and provides technical support to the Broadcasting, Culture and Sport Branch in assessing the suitability of pyrotechnics and pyrotechnicians. In 1996, there were 41 applications for the use of pyrotechnics in the production of television programmes and theatrical performances.

133