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Following is a question by the Hon Patrick Lau and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (June 17):
Question:
The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) has proposed to set up a temporary explosives magazine south of Chung Hom Shan for the construction of the South Island Line. I have learnt that there are residents in Southern District and members of the Southern District Council objecting strongly to such a proposal as they consider that the site for the magazine and the conveyance route of the explosives are too close to residential areas, thus posing a threat to residents' safety. Moreover, as the magazine is only 200 metres away from satellite telecommunications facilities, the relevant company has raised its objection, and the Office of the Telecommunications Authority has also indicated that efforts must be made to ensure that the telecommunications facilities will not be exposed to any potential risk. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) given that the Mines Division of the Civil Engineering and Development Department has put forward the view that the site for the magazine is viable, of the justifications for the Division to put forward the aforesaid view despite objection from the Southern District Council, as well as whether it knew beforehand if the Town Planning Board had already approved the planned use of the site adjacent to telecommunications facilities as explosives storage, as well as the relevant justifications for the approval; if it did not know, of the reasons for putting forward the aforesaid view;
(b) whether MTRCL has submitted to the authorities details of the design and operation of the magazine (including the daily schedule of conveying the explosives, the distance of the conveyance route and the residential areas it passes through), the risk assessment reports and environmental impact assessment reports; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) whether it has studied other "people-based" proposals, including continuing to use the explosives magazine on Lantau Island or identifying another site (such as Shek O Quarry) which is more remote and far from residential areas to set up the explosives magazine?
Reply:
President,
The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) has completed the preliminary design of the South Island Line (East) (SIL(E)), which is a medium capacity railway line measuring about seven kilometres and running between Admiralty and South Horizons. The construction works of the SIL (E) is currently planned to start in 2011 for commissioning no later than 2015.
Since certain sections of the SIL (E) will be built under the rock stratum, it is expected that tunnelling will be done by blasting, in association with other construction methods. At present, explosives supplied by the Mines Division of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) are delivered daily by waterborne transport from the government explosives depot at Kau Shat Wan on Lantau Island to designated piers and then by land transport to various approved blasting sites or magazines. To ensure that the SIL (E) will be completed and commissioned on time, the contractors will have to carry out blasting twice a day for tunnel construction during the daytime and in the evening. Due to the fact that the Dangerous Goods Ordinance stipulates that shipping of explosives is not permitted at night time and in the early morning, it is considered necessary to set up a temporary magazine site for the project.
In fact, explosive for tunnelling is very safe, as it will not explode by normal impact. The explosion when initiated by the detonator will trigger a series of air expansion to break up the rock stratum. The vibration generated from blasting will last for a few seconds. The resulting peak particle velocity measured at sensitive receivers should not exceed the standard of 25 millimetres per second, or 25 vibration units. Take an example in our daily life, the use of percussion drilling tools during internal decoration in a household will cause a vibration of up to 25 vibration units.
The MTRCL has proposed a remote site in Chung Hom Shan for setting up a temporary magazine for storing a small amount of explosives for tunnel construction and the site formation work under the SIL (E). The site is situated far away from residential areas. It is accessible by roads and relatively near the project construction sites at Nam Fung Road and Ap Lei Chau.
My reply to the different parts of the question is as follows:
(a) Before putting forward the proposed magazine site at Chung Hom Shan, the MTRCL has consulted relevant government departments concerned, including the CEDD, Planning Department, Lands Department and Environmental Protection Department (EPD). The Mines Division has no objection in principle for the MTRCL to conduct further study on the proposed site in its detailed design stage. Other government departments have raised no objection. For further planning of the blasting work, the MTRCL is required to conduct a quantitative risk assessment for the magazine, which forms a part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study report for the approval of EPD. As regards the use of explosives, the MTRCL will also be required to carry out detailed blasting assessment and to submit the report for the approval of CEDD. When the construction work commences, the contractor will be required to apply for a blasting permit before blasting work could proceed.
With respect to the proposed temporary magazine site, we have consulted the District Council concerned. The District Council understands and appreciates the importance of setting up of a temporary magazine site for the early completion of the project. Individual District Councillors have raised objection to the proposed magazine site at Chung Hom Shan. We will maintain our dialogue with the Southern District Council, particularly the Councillors concerned and the local residents, and explain our considerations as well as risk control and safety measures regarding the magazine and the transport of explosives, so as to alleviate the concerns of the Councillors and the residents.
Given its temporary nature, the proposed magazine will not affect the long-term land use of the site. As stipulated in the notes to the Outline Zoning Plan, a site with temporary use, for less than five years, would not require the approval from the Town Planning Board.
(b) As mentioned above, the proposed magazine site at Chung Hom Shan requires quantitative risk assessment to ensure storage, conveyance and use of explosives in a safe manner. The quantitative risk assessment report will be included in the EIA report which will be submitted to EPD for approval and for public inspection.
The MTRCL will follow the requirements laid down by the Mines Division and, by reference to the safe distance required for the nearby residential area, determine the amount of explosives to be stored. The proposed site at Chung Hom Shan is about 250m from Chung Hom Kok Road and more than 300m from the nearest residential area. There is a slope of about 60m high separating the proposed site and the residential area.
The MTRCL will provide two separate rooms, each with individual entrance/exit, for storage of explosives and detonators so as to reduce the chance of accidents. Moreover, the MTRCL will construct an earth bund of up to 2.7m high, with a base of up to 3m thick in the vicinity of the store. Inside and around the store, fire fighting and security installations will be provided. Moreover, security guards will be deployed 24 hours.
The explosives and detonators will be transported separately by different vehicles. As explosives have to be ignited by detonators, such an arrangement can further minimise the chance of accidents.
Before commencement of the construction work, the MTRCL is required to complete a detailed risk assessment on blasting for approval by the CEDD. The assessment has to include recommendations on risk control and safety measures for the usage, conveyance and storage of explosives to ensure compliance of the standards set out in the Dangerous Goods Ordinance (Cap. 295).
There is a long history of using explosives in construction works in Hong Kong. So far, there is no blasting accident in tunnelling, thus proving that the storage, conveyance and handling of explosives have been very safe.
(c) Before putting forward the proposed magazine site at Chung Hom Shan, the MTRCL has considered the feasibility of alternative sites. After taking into account a number of factors, including the distance from nearby residential areas and the distance of the transportation route, the MTRCL considers the Chung Hom Shan site more preferable.
The MTRCL has also considered the site at Shek O Quarry as mentioned by the Hon Patrick Lau. This site is farther from the blasting site and the longer haul route requires more time for transportation thereby resulting in higher risk. The MTRCL has considered the lower risk associated with the Chung Hom Shan site which is therefore more suitable for further assessment.
After more than a year of public consultation, the preliminary railway scheme has been fixed. We expect to gazette the project in mid-2009 for commencement of statutory consultation and to start process of resolving objections. We will spare no efforts in completing the remaining assessment of the project. While complying with the statutory procedures, we will continue to press ahead with the project for early start of construction and completion.
Ends/Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:46
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