The Mines Division contains three Sections, namely the Mines 1 Section, Mines 2 Section and Quarries Section. The Division's major responsibilities include control on the manufacture, storage, conveyance and usage of explosives (i.e. Category 1 Dangerous Goods) under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, enforcement of the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, Mining Ordinance and Quarries (Safety) Regulations and the planning and management of quarrying contracts. The statutory responsibilities of the Commissioner of Mines are exercised by the Superintendent of Mines, who is also the Chief Geotechnical Engineer of this Division. Under the Mines (Safety) Regulations, the Superintendent of Mines issues Mine Blasting Certificates which permit shotfirers to use explosives in blasting. Click here to see how to apply for the various permits and certificates. The Mines 1 Section controls the possession, manufacture and use of explosives for rock blasting in Hong Kong under the statutory provisions of the Dangerous Goods Ordinance. On the discharge of fireworks, it provides technical support to the Secretary for Home Affairs and Director of Marine who are the authorities under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance. This Section also gauges the ground vibrations and sound emanated from blasting operations. It is also responsible for proposing amendments to the legislation on explosives. The Mines 2 Section manages the Government Explosives Depots and the Explosives Delivery Unit. The Government Explosives Depots provide bulk storage facilities for imported explosives up to 500 tonnes at any one time. For other uses of explosives such as for life saving, scientific research, fire fighting, sporting arms, and industrial fastening tools, this Section controls the storage and conveyance of these explosives. The Explosives Delivery Unit controls the conveyance of explosives in Hong Kong, including their delivery from Government Explosives Depots to blasting sites and also supervises the security of explosives on site. It manages two purpose-built vessels and a fleet of trucks and personnel vehicles. For the past five years, a yearly average of about 191 tonnes of explosives are delivered to blasting sites, mainly for site formation, quarrying and tunnel constructions. This Section also arranges the temporary storage and destruction of confiscated fireworks and is responsible for the inspection of dangerous goods stores. The revenue from charges for storage and delivery of explosives and issue of licences and permits amounts to about HK$ 15 million per year for the past five years. The Quarries Section is responsible for ensuring that Hong Kong has an adequate supply of aggregates and rock products, demand for which is about 13 million tonnes per year for the past five years. This Section manages the Government's quarry rehabilitation programme involving quarry rehabilitation contracts. Currently, it controls the three quarries at Lam Tei (Tuen Mun), Shek O (Hong Kong Island), and Anderson Road (Kowloon). As an ongoing exercise, it carries out planning and feasibility studies for Hong Kong's future aggregates and rock products supplies. The Section's activities therefore encompass investigation, planning and contract management. The current revenue to the Government from the quarrying concessions is in the order of HK$ 22 million per annum for the past five years. Information on Import of Explosives into Hong Kong.