WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
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MORE TOLL BOOTHS FOR LION ROCK TUNNEL
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MORE TOLL BOOTHS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN OPERATION AT THE LION ROCK TUNNEL EARLY NEXT YEAR TO COPE WITH THE STEADY INCREASE IN TRAFFIC USING THE TUNNEL,
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. THE HON. DEREK JONES, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG.
MR. JONES SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED WITH THE BASIC PHYSICAL AND ACCOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COLLECTION OF TOLLS AT THE LION ROCK TUNNEL.
+THEY HAVE WORKED EFFICIENTLY SINCE THE TUNNEL WAS OPENED IN 1967 AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO, HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT WITH THE STEADY INCREASE IN TRAFFIC USING THE TUNNEL, THERE WERE CLEARLY NOT SUFFICIENT TOLL BOOTHS
IN OPERATION TO COPE WITH THE FLOW DURING PEAK PERIODS.
MR. JONES SAID THAT TO OPERATE MORE BOOTHS WOULD REQUIRE EXTRA STAFF AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT HAD ALREADY MADE A REQUEST FOR THIS.
HE SAID EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO EXPEDITE THIS REQUEST AND THAT HOPEFULLY, MORE TOLL BOOTHS WOULD BE IN OPERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR.
ACCEPTANCE TESTS ON DESALTING PLANT EVAPORATORS
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THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD SAID TODAY THAT ACCEPTANCE TESTS ON THE SIX EVAPORATOR UNITS OF THE LOK ON PAI DESALTING PLANT SHOWED THAT ALL UNITS FULLY COMPLIED WITH THE STIPULATED REQUIREMENTS BOTH IN TERMS OF OUTPUT AND THERMAL EFFICIENCY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT THE FULL TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE TEST-RUNNING OF THE DESALTER HAD BEEN COMPLETED, AND WAS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
HE SAID THE SPECIFICATION FOR THE PLANT MAINLY INVOLVED ACCEPTANCE TESTS OF SIX MONTHS' DURATION FOR EACH OF THE SIX EVAPORATOR AND BOILER UNITS.
+HOWEVER IN VIEW OF THE VERY FAVOURABLE WATER STORAGE POSITION AT THE BEGINNING OF 1975 WHEN THE TESTS WERE DUE TO COMMENCE AND IN ORDER TO CONSERVE FUEL, AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO CARRY OUT THE FULL TESTS ON ONE UNIT ONLY AND CURTAILED TESTS, WITH BUILT-IN SAFEGUARDS, ON THE OTHER FIVE UNITS.
+CURTA ILMENT OF THE TESTS PRODUCED A SAVING ON FUEL AMOUNTING TO APPROXIMATELY $60 MILLION AND A REDUCTION OF ABOUT $430,000 ON THE CONTRACT PRICE BY THE ELIMINATION OF PART OF THE CONTRACTOR'S TEST SUPERVISION, + SAID MR. MCDONALD.
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