TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976
3
SURPRISE CHECK ON DANGEROUS GOODS VEHICLES
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OFFICERS OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT CARRIED OUT A SURPRISE CHECK ON ALL DANGEROUS GOODS VEHICLES AT THE TWO ENTRANCES OF THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING.
DURING THE THREE-HOUR OPERATION WHICH STARTED AT 9 A.M. 55 VEHICLES USED FOR CONVEYING COMPRESSED GASES AND INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS WERE INSPECTED.
OF THE TOTAL, ONE VEHICLE WAS FOUND CARRYING SUCH GOODS WITHOUT A LICENCE ISSUED BY THE FIRE SERVICES AND 14 WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN DEFECTS OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER.
SUMMONSES WILL BE TAKEN OUT AGAINST THE OPERATORS OF THESE VEHICLES FOR BREACHING THE DANGEROUS GOODS REGULATIONS.
ACCORDING TO A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN, MOST OF THE VEHICLES CHECKED TODAY WERE IN POOR CONDITION ALTHOUGH THEY HAD BEEN
INSPECTED BEFORE BEING LICENSED.
+SOME OF THEM ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND SPARK ARRESTERS WHILE SOME HAVE ONLY EMPTY EXTINGUISHERS,+ HE SAID.
+THIS LACK OF MAINTENANCE OF SAFETY STANDARDS IS MOST DANGEROUS,+ THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT. +APART FROM THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLES CONCERNED, OTHER ROAD USERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC COULD BE ENDANGERED DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS LOADS INVOLVED.+
HE CALLED ON ALL OPERATORS TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES BROUGHT UP TO THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS IMMEDIATELY, ADDING THAT FURTHER CHECKS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT AS FROM NOW ON.
UNDER THE DANGEROUS GOODS (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1973, ALL VEHICLES USED FOR CONVEYING COMPRESSED GASES AND INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS ARE TO BE LICENSED AND INSPECTED ANNUALLY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF HIGH SAFETY STANDARDS ON THEM.
SO FAR, MORE THAN 1,650 SUCH VEHICLES HAVE BEEN LICENSED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED ******
THE GOVERNOR AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON LAM KWOK KI ALIAS PAK DEE ON NOVEMBER 14, 1975, SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO IMPRISONMENT FOR 20 YEARS.
LAM WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF CHEUNG HUNG.