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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1978
NEW GOODS VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE READY FOR USE SOON
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1 THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT'S $6 MILLION GOODS VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE BEING BUILT ON KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION WILL BE READY FOR OPERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR.
THE NEW CENTRE WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH MODERN EQUIPMENT FOR THE INSPECTION OF GOODS VEHICLES AND WILL HAVE EIGHT SEMI-AUTOMATED INSPECTION LANES IN A LARGE HALL CAPABLE OF HANDLING OVER 200 INSPECTIONS A DAY,
APART FROM AN INSPECTION HALL, THE CENTRE WILL HAVE AN OFFICE BLOCK, A STORE HOUSE, A PUBLIC WAITING ROOM, A LECTURE ROOM AND A CONFERENCE ROOM.
THE INSPECTION LANES WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH VARIOUS MODERN TESTING DEVICES SUCH AS HYDRAULIC-PNEUMATIC PIT JACK, STEERING/ SUSPENSION WEAR DETECTOR, HEADLIGHT TESTER, ROLLER BRAKE TESTER AND HYDRAULIC LOAD SIMULÁTOR, THEY WILL ENABLE THE INSPECTION OF A VEHICLE TO BE COMPLETED IN 40 MINUTES.
THE NEW INSPECTION PROCEDURES WILL ELIMINATE THE ROAD TEST AND WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN FOUR STAGES - THE FIRST TWO CONCENTRATING ON THE BODY AND ENGINE AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH ON THE LIGHTS AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
MR. COLIN TULLY, MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINER OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID ON COMPLETION OF THE CENTRE, IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO EXTEND THE EXISTING ANNUAL INSPECTIONS TO COVER ALL GOODS VEHICLES, WHICH NUMBER 45,906 AT PRESENT, AND ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 48,000 BY 1979 AND 53,000 BY 1980.+
+HOWEVER, OUR ULTIMATE AIM IS TO EXAMINE EVERY VEHICLE ONCE A YEAR TO ENSURE THAT ALL VEHICLES ARE KEPT IN A ROADWORTHY CONDITION. UNROADWORTHY VEHICLES POSE A THREAT TO THE PUBLIC, AND SHOULD BE KEPT OFF THE ROAD, HE SAID.
THE VEHICLE EXAMINATION SECTION OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ANNUAL INSPECTION OF TAXIS AND THEIR TARIFF METERS WHICH ARE CHECKED EVERY SIX MONTHS. IT ALSO INSPECTS ALL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC OMNIBUSES AS WELL AS ALL MINIBUSES.
IN ADDITION, MECHANICAL CHECKS ARE CARRIED OUT ON ALL NEW OMNIBUSES, GOODS VEHICLES, USED IMPORTED VEHICLES AND NEW MODELS OF PRIVATE CARS PRIOR TO THEIR REGISTRATION AND LICENSING. VEHICLES REPORTED TO BE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING POSSIBLE DANGER ON THE ROAD ARE ALSO CHECKED.
THERE ARE NOW FOUR VEHICLES EXAMINATION CENTRES WAN, ONE ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND TWO IN KOWLOON.
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ONE IN TSUEN
THE TOTAL.....