MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1976
APPLY FOR DANGEROUS GOODS LICENCE, OPERATORS TOLD
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OFFICERS FROM THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY CARRY OUT INTENSIVE CHECKS ON VEHICLES USED FOR CONVEYING COMPRESSED GASES AND INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (MONDAY), A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN WARNED ALL OPERATORS OF DANGEROUS GOODS LORRIES THAT THEY WOULD FACE LEGAL ACTION IF THEIR VEHICLES WERE FOUND TO BE CARRYING SUCH GOODS AFTER APRIL 1, 1976 WITHOUT A LICENCE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
HE SAID THE PENALTY FOR CARRYING THESE TWO CATEGORIES OF DANGEROUS GOODS WITHOUT A LICENCE, UPON CONVICTION, COULD BE $8,000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.
ANNUAL LICENSING OF THESE VEHICLES BECAME LAW IN 1973 AND HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY ENFORCED SINCE APRIL LAST YEAR.
ALL KNOWN OWNERS WERE SENT A LETTER, WITH APPLICATION FORMS ATTACHED, SEVERAL MONTHS IN ADVANCE ADVISING THEM OF THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF THE NEW LAW AND REQUESTING THEM TO APPLY TO THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU FOR LICENCES. IN ADDITION, THE NEW REQUIREMENTS WERE ALSO WIDELY PUBLICISED IN THE LOCAL PRESS FROM TIME TO TIME.
+NEVERTHELESS, THE MAJORITY HAVE NOT BOTHERED TO TAKE ANY ACTION WHATSOEVER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, POINTING OUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT OF THE 2,000 SUCH VEHICLES ON RECORD, ONLY ABOUT 500 HAD SO FAR BEEN LICENSED AND INSPECTED.
+THE LICENCE FEE IS $50 A YEAR AND OPERATORS WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED OR SENT IN THEIR APPLICATION FORMS ARE URGED TO WRITE IMMEDIATELY TO THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU, 11TH FLOOR, ASIAN HOUSE, HENNESSY ROAD, HE ADDED.
THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS SHOULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE BUREAU FOR INSPECTION, EITHER BY LETTER OR BY TELEPHONE (5-281122 EXTENSION 44) BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 10 A.M. DAILY FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY.
A CENTRE HAS BEEN SET UP AT THE HARBOUR ROAD FIRE STATION WHICH WILL BE ABLE TO EXAMINE UP TO 40 VEHICLES A DAY. A CURRENT CERTIFICATE OF ROADWORTHINESS FROM THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IN RESPECT OF EACH VEHICLE MUST BE PRODUCED AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE PURPOSE OF ANNUAL LICENSING WAS TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF HIGH SAFETY STANDARDS ON THESE VEHICLES IN THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
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