Exploring the feasibility of underground quarrying in new quarries

The Secretary for Development, Wong Wai Lun, published a blog today (26), stating that the government has started research on the development of new quarries, so as to ensure that the new quarries can be put into operation in a timely manner to continue local stone production.

He continued that the government is actively exploring the feasibility of underground quarrying and cavern development in Hong Kong and introducing new concepts for the quarry industry.

The Secretary for Development, Wong Wai Lun, published a blog today stating that the government has started research on the development of new quarries, so as to ensure that the new quarries can be put into operation in a timely manner.

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The 70th anniversary of the founding of the Ministry of Mines was incorporated into the Land Development Department in 1991

Huang Weilun stated in his blog that this year is the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of Mines. The Geotechnical Engineering Office held a special exhibition and symposium on the 70th anniversary of the Ministry of Mines at the beginning of the month to introduce the development and main work scope of the Ministry of Mines.

He pointed out that the historical record of Hong Kong's stone mining can be traced back to 1841.

Until the 1940s, due to a considerable degree of illegal mining in Hong Kong, the government established a "Mining Unit" under the Labour Department in 1951 to supervise local mining operations.

After that, the "Mining Team" was reorganized and renamed many times, and was incorporated into the Department of Land and Development (then the Civil Engineering Department) in 1991, and is now called the Ministry of Mines.

He said that many construction projects in Hong Kong require blasting works, such as the relocation of the Shatin Sewage Treatment Plant to the Nv Po Mountain artificial cave in A Kung Kok. The excavation of caves and connecting tunnels require blasting in conjunction with other construction methods.

Currently only Tuen Mun Lam Tei Quarry is operating

Xu Haihang, deputy director of the Geotechnical Engineering Office, pointed out in his blog that the quarry has two main tasks. The first is to supply stone, appropriately maintain local production, reduce excessive dependence on imported stone, and reserve stone for emergency. The second is to allow the stone waste generated by the project to be recycled in the quarry to turn it into useful stone and turn waste into material.

In addition, the quarry after the completion of mining tasks and rehabilitation can release a large area of ​​land to meet the different needs of social and economic development. In recent years, examples include Anderson Road, Jordan Valley and Shek O quarries.

Wong Wai Lun pointed out that currently there is only one quarry in Hong Kong that is still operating, located in Lam Tei, Tuen Mun. The government has started research on the development of a new quarry to ensure that the new quarry can be put into operation in a timely manner to continue local stone production.

In addition, the government is actively exploring the feasibility of underground quarrying and cavern development in Hong Kong to introduce new concepts to the quarry industry.

Development Secretary Wong Wai-lun said that he would review the simplified procedures of the town planning regulations and would like to see developers cooperating with the land reclamation plan or postponed due to the epidemic. Development Bureau: Re-examine the priority of project implementation. Unintentional changes at this stage

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