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LCQ1: Arrangements for overlength fishing vessels to be anchored at typhoon shelters
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     Following is a question by the Hon Steven Ho and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council today (July 10):

Question:

     The Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Typhoon Shelters) Regulation prescribes different permitted lengths overall for local vessels entering or remaining in various typhoon shelters (length limits). While the length limit of seven of the 14 existing typhoon shelters is 30.4 metres (m), the length limit of the other typhoon shelters is either 50 m or 75 m. The owner of an overlength vessel may apply to the Director of Marine for permission for his vessel to enter a typhoon shelter to conduct activities such as repairs to the vessel or delivery of its catch, etc. Some fishermen have relayed to me that fishery is one of the oldest industries in Hong Kong, and fishermen have since a very long time ago made typhoon shelters their home. However, as the overall length of quite a number of fishing vessels is longer than 30.4 m at present, the length limits of typhoon shelters have given rise to a series of issues affecting both the operation of fishing vessels and the daily lives of fishermen. For example, as the length limit of Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter is 30.4 m, the fishermen who operate in Aberdeen waters may only have their overlength fishing vessels berthed in the far-away Hei Ling Chau Typhoon Shelter, which has caused great inconvenience to them. Besides, the additional voyage will add to the risk of accidents. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the berthing places made available by the Government for vessels the overall length of which exceeds the length limits of the typhoon shelters within their operating areas; if such fishing vessels have to berth at other districts or outside typhoon shelters, whether the Government has considered if such an arrangement would make it impossible for the fishermen concerned to return to their homes, thereby causing them inconvenience and exposing them to additional risk of accidents;

(b) since overlength fishing vessels granted with permission may enter typhoon shelters, which reflects that the design of the typhoon shelters concerned is capable of accommodating overlength fishing vessels, whether the Government will consider permitting a certain number of overlength fishing vessels to berth in the typhoon shelters within their operating areas during periods other than the fishing moratorium and the Lunar New Year, so as to cater for the operational needs of the fishing industry; if it will, of the details, including the implementation date; if not, the reasons for that; and

(c) whether the Government will consider amending the law, introducing administrative measures and conducting a comprehensive review to improve the facilities and planning of the various typhoon shelters, so that the length limits of and the various ancillary facilities in typhoon shelters can cater for the development of the fishing industry and integrate well with the areas in the vicinity, with a view to facilitating the development of the fishery-related wholesale and retail trades, and supporting the sustainable development of the fishing industry; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     There are currently 14 typhoon shelters within Hong Kong waters, providing a total of 419 hectares of sheltered space for use by vessels during inclement weather. Due to limitations in the design of their entrances, passage areas and anchorage areas, typhoon shelters vary in terms of their requirements on the length of the vessels entering or remaining in them. Such "permitted lengths overall" are set out in the Schedule to the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Typhoon Shelters) Regulation (Cap. 548 sub. leg. E). The permitted length overall is 30.4m for the Aberdeen South, the Aberdeen West, the Causeway Bay, the Sam Ka Tsuen, the Shau Kei Wan, the Shuen Wan and the Yim Tin Tsai Typhoon Shelters; 50m for six other typhoon shelters; and 75m for one other typhoon shelter, the Hei Ling Chau Typhoon Shelter. The size and permitted length overall for the typhoon shelters are listed in Annex I.

     In relation to the different parts of the question asked by the Hon Steven Ho Chun-yin, our reply is as follows:

(a) As at the end of 2012, there were about 16 300 locally licensed vessels. In all, the existing supply of space in the typhoon shelters, the sheltered anchorages and other anchorage facilities in Hong Kong waters can generally meet the demand of locally licensed vessels, which include local fishing vessels, and small visiting vessels.

     According to the statistics of the Marine Department (MD), there are currently some 6 470 locally licensed Class III vessels, that is, fishing vessels. Of these, 95% or about 6 100 vessels are less than 30.4m in length and are able to anchor at all the 14 typhoon shelters. The remaining some 300 vessels are between 30.4m to 50m long; several typhoon shelters in urban areas, such as the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter, the New Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter, the Rambler Channel Typhoon Shelter and the To Kwa Wan Typhoon Shelter, can accommodate these longer vessels.
 
(b) As required by law, if the length of a local vessel exceeds the permitted length overall for a typhoon shelter, it shall not enter or remain in that typhoon shelter except with the permission of the Director of Marine. The procedure to apply to MD for the permit (commonly known as ˇ§overlength endorsementˇ¨) is not complicated, and a prescribed fee of $160 will be charged for each application. In 2012, MD approved more than 900 applications relating to the 14 typhoon shelters in Hong Kong, the exact number is 988, the details of which are at Annex II. In processing the applications, MD will consider a number of factors including the anchorage situation and restrictions of the typhoon shelter concerned, the impacts on other vessels in that typhoon shelter, and whether the grounds given by the vessel owner are justified.

     Considering that the fishermen living in the Southern District need to use the Aberdeen West Typhoon Shelter during the Chinese New Year (between the 15th day of the twelfth month and the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar) and the fishing moratorium in the South China Sea (around May 16 to August 1 every year), MD would issue "special overlength endorsements" to the overlength fishing vessels concerned, allowing them to be anchored at the typhoon shelter for a longer period of time. In 2012, about 50 fishing vessels applied to MD for "special overlength endorsement" to cover the Chinese New Year or the fishing moratorium in the South China Sea, and all the applications were approved.

     For a period not within the Chinese New Year and the fishing moratorium in the South China Sea, vessel owners may also apply to MD for "overlength endorsement". In 2012, apart from facilitating vessels during festive season or fishing moratorium, the grounds given by vessel owners in the applications approved by MD include repairs, replenishment, marine works, salvage of sunken vessels, cargo operation, as well as hospitalisation of the vessel owners and handling of marriage or funeral matters. In handling the applications for "overlength endorsement", MD would care well for the operational and other actual needs of the fishermen.

(c) The current provision of facilities in typhoon shelters can generally cope with the operational need of the local fishing industry. From time to time, MD conducts assessment on the overall supply and demand of sheltered space in Hong Kong. The most recent large-scale assessment was conducted in 2009 and updated in 2012. On the basis of ensuring navigational safety in Hong Kong waters, MD is planning to conduct a fresh in-depth review in 2013-14 of the supply and demand as well as planning of sheltered space with a view to optimising the use of our waters and providing greater convenience and flexibility to vessel users.

     In response to the Hon Steven Ho Chun-yin's enquiry about facilitating the development of the fishery-related wholesale and retail trades, and supporting the sustainable development of the fishing industry, according to the Secretary for Food and Health, in respect of supporting the development of the fishing industry, the wholesale fish markets under the Fish Marketing Organization (FMO) are mostly located within or in the vicinity of typhoon shelters. Currently, in addition to the wholesaling of chilled marine fish, and the provision of loading and storage facilities for sea catch, some of the market space is spared for fisheries product trading offices and the wholesaling and distribution of live marine products. To develop and promote unique and quality local fisheries products, the FMO has also set up the Fish Processing Centre. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the FMO will continue to support the sustainable development of the fishing industry, and will maintain close contact with the stakeholders of the trade.

     President, I so submit.

Ends/Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:49

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