Top co-operation from formations and other Government departments is helping Bomb Disposal Officers render our waterways safe from unexploded wartime ordnance.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau hailed Marine Police, the Fire Services and Marine Departments for their efforts in assisting BDOs in recovering and safely destroying several hundred kilograms of explosive shells recently dredged up in reclamation work.

Since October, EOD officers have been called to dredgers more than 60 times to recover and render safe almost 100 unexploded wartime artillery and naval shells, some weighing up to 45 kilograms. Most of the ordnance was picked up in the East Lamma Channel while more than 20 were recovered from the Western Fairway south of Tsing Yi.

Some 15 shells deemed unstable by EOD officers at the scene were immediately taken to a remote island and destroyed, while 32 stabilised small-calibre shells were destroyed at Mount Butler Quarry Range.

Almost 50 large ones, measuring up to 15 centimetres in calibre, were destroyed at the Castle Peak Firing Range on February 23 with support from the EOD Cadre. Four Hong Kong Island Police Tactical Unit officers also helped in the operation, handling communications and the cordoning of the range.

BDO Jimmy Yuen Hon-wing said Marine officers, FSD and MD helped with the transport of personnel and ordnance, and with the cordoning of operation areas.

"It has been a very busy time with three to four call outs per day. This sort of operation is continuous, day and night. However, the support we get from these formations and departments is first class and EOD Bureau appreciates their help," he said.

Dredgers have been operating non-stop on two major reclamation projects to provide land for Disneyland at Penny's Bay and Container Terminal Number Nine at Kwai Chung. The majority of the ordnance recovered was believed to have been naval and military shells dumped in the deep waters of the Channel and the Fairway decades ago.

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