The Marine Department (MD), Marine Police (Marpol) and the Fire Services Department (FSD) will jointly implement a series of marine traffic arrangements in Victoria Harbour to ensure safety during the 50th Anniversary National Day Fireworks Display on October 1 (Friday).

The fireworks will be discharged from six barges, two of them anchoring in pair, at five firing points in Central Victoria Harbour off Wan Chai starting at 9.30 pm.

In the event of inclement weather, the display may be postponed to October 2 (Saturday), starting at the same time.

A Marine Department spokesman today (Friday) said that an area encompassing the fireworks display barges would be established as a closed area between 4.30 pm and 11.30 pm.

"This area will be closed to all marine traffic except craft directly involved in the fireworks display, Government launches and other vessels approved by the Director of Marine," he said.

He added that from 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm, Central Victoria Harbour would be designated a restricted area.

The restricted area is bounded on the east side by a straight line joining Hung Hom Railway Station Cargo Pier and the breakwater at Kellet Island, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. The western boundary is a straight line joining the southwest extremity of the Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui and the Central Government Pier.

"During the effective period of restriction, no vessel other than Government launches, vessels directly involved in the fireworks display or those which have obtained permission from the Director of Marine will be allowed to enter or remain within the restricted area," the spokesman said.

"Special permission will only be given to public transport vessels and those for the essential operation of the port, while applications from spectator vessels for viewing the display will not be entertained," he added.

The spokesman advised coxswains of spectator vessels that waters to the west of the restricted area would not be a good viewing location due to rough sea and heavy traffic conditions.

He suggested spectator vessels from the west to proceed to the east before the closure of Victoria Harbour.

To facilitate crowd control on shore, landing steps at Queen's Pier, Lung King Street, Lung Wui Street, Kowloon Public Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui East promenade and Hung Hom Ferry East will be closed to marine traffic from 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm.

The spokesman urged vessels, if possible, to use landing areas away from the central harbour for disembarkation.

To ensure safe navigation and orderly disembarkation of passengers after the fireworks displays, two sterile areas will be set up at Queen's Pier and Kowloon Public Pier respectively from 9.45 pm to 11 pm.

These two sterile areas will include the water areas fronting the respective piers and to a distance of about 90 metres offshore. They will be physically marked by MD and Marpol launches deployed to line up offshore.

The spokesman said vessels intending to use the piers were required to wait at a designated gathering areas prior to berthing and, under the direction of MD and Marpol launches, vessels would only be permitted to enter the sterile areas from the east and depart from the west.

A Marine Department Notice No.119 of 1999 has been published to give full details of the special marine traffic control measures. Free copies of the notice are available from the Central Marine Office on the third floor, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central and also from the MD Homepage on the Internet at http://www.info.gov.hk/mardep/index.htm.

The spokesman also advised that small vessels, particularly those with no decking, or those of less than five metres in length, should not proceed to or remain in the central harbour area in that evening since such vessels were vulnerable to the wash from larger vessels and were not easily detected by vessels with higher freeboard.

Regarding safety measures of vessels during the 50th Anniversary National Day Fireworks Display, the spokesman advised coxswains of spectator vessels on the following:

• All vessels navigating in Victoria Harbour between Green Island and Lei Yue Mun should proceed at a safe speed which should not generally exceed five knots;
• Every vessel should at all times maintain a proper look-out, and take measures including switching off cabin lights to avoid obscuring the view of the look-out;
• Searchlights should not be used on or from any vessel as the direction of such lights on other vessels will interfere with their keeping of a proper look-out and their safe operation; and
• Vessels should not hurry to leave the viewing areas immediately after the display.

• All persons on board are aware of the location of all life saving appliances and that they know how to put on a lifejacket properly. A practical demonstration is recommended;
• All children aboard wear lifejackets at all times;
• A passenger list is prepared for the ready use of emergency services. This list should include the names of all passengers and crew on board, and should be kept by the master; and
• The carrying capacity on the licence of a vessel is not exceeded.

The spokesman pointed out that there would be a large number of MD, Marpol and FSD vessels identified by their flashing red or flashing blue lights either stationed or patrolling in the central harbour area. Masters should follow any instructions originated from these vessels.

In the event that a vessel is in danger and requires assistance, its master can:

- Call the Marine Department by very high frequency radio on channel 16 using the call sign "Hong Kong Rescue", or on the telephone number 2545 0181;

• Call the Marine Police on the telephone number 2803 6240 or 2803 6241;
• Call 999; or
• Indicate the need of assistance by using distress signals.

Friday, 24 September 1999