Mining and Quarrying

The Mines and Quarries Division of the Geotechnical Engineering Office
of the Civil Engineering Department enforces legislation relating to mining,
quarrying and explosives, and administers quarrying contracts. It
processes mining and prospecting applications and inspects mining and
prospecting areas, stone quarries, blasting sites and explosives stores.

Hong Kong used 25 million tonnes of aggregates and other rock products
in 1997. About 74 per cent of Hong Kong's demand for aggregates and
rock products was met locally, with the balance imported from the
Mainland.

One quarrying contract and three quarry rehabilitation contracts were
under way in 1997. 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 - one on Stonecutters Island and one in Piper's Hill, Sha
Tin - which provided bulk storage facilities for imported explosives. In
June, the Stonecutters Island depot was replaced by a new government
explosives depot in Kau Shat Wan on Lantau Island. The division also
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 and
quarrying works. The overall consumption of explosives was 4 284
tonnes.

The division is responsible for issuing storage licenses and removal
permits and provides technical support to the Broadcasting, Culture and
Sport Bureau in assessing applications for the use of pyrotechnics. In
1997, there were 42 applications for the use of pyrotechnics in the
production of television programmes and theatrical performances, and
one application for the use of devices containing explosives in film
production.

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