PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
The Department is now liaising with the Architectural Services Department and the manufacturer to study the ways to set up the supportive structures and to identify other means to eliminate static electricity. The improvement measures are expected to be completed in two months' time.
In the fifth part of the question, Mr. WONG asks whether the manufacturer should be held liable and responsible for the cost of improvement measures. The manufacturer has confirmed that this type of slides conforms to international standards. However, the manufacturer has agreed to bear the cost of constructing additional supportive structures if the Architectural Services Department considers it necessary for the elimination of static electricity. The cost for such improvement measures is not expensive at all.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese):-I have several follow-up questions. The first question. I want to ask the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee whether, before the paper was prepared, he was aware of such a phenomenon and whether the Department knew about this. For example, it is stated in the written reply that the slides are up to international standards. Since they are up to international standards, how come there is such a phenomenon? This is the first question.
The second question. The Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee indicated that additional supportive structures would improve the situation. I want to find out whether the supportive structures will be made of stainless steel, because if this kind of material is used, erosion will be minimized and the possibility of children getting hurt while playing slides will be prevented.
The third question. Will the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee follow up on and review the case after the improvement works are completed in two months to ensure that the problem of static electricity is really solved as expected?
The fourth question. What is the cost of this kind of facility in children's playgrounds and what is the cost of the improvement measures which have to be taken? We are glad to learn that the manufacturer will bear the cost but still we would like to know what it is.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—I would answer the question about the cost first. As shown in the written reply, since the cost of improvement measures is not too expensive, the manufacturer has already included it in the construction cost. I believe that if the same slides are to be constructed in future by the Department, preventive devices should be built in without any additional cost charged by the manufacturer. The cost must be the same as the existing one.
About Mr. WONG's first question, that is, whether there was such a phenomenon before, I believe it did occur before but since the occurrence of
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