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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1979

PASSÁGE OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF DANGEROUS GOODS PROHIBITED THROUGH CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL (AMENDMENT) BY-LAWS 1979 TO PROHIBIT THE PASSAGE OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF DANGEROUS GOODS THROUGH THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL.

MOVING THE BY-LAWS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE PROHIBITION WAS TO SERVE AS A PRECAUTION IN VIEW OF RECENT TRAGIC INCIDENTS OVERSEAS INVOLVING SUCH SUBSTANCES.

+THE AMENDMENTS, THEREFORE, PROVIDE FOR ALL VEHICLES CARRYING COMPRESSED GASES TO BE PROHIBITED FROM USING THE TUNNEL AS FROM JANUARY 15, 1979,+ HE SAID.

FOR VEHICLES CARRYING PETROLEUM AND OTHER SUBSTANCES GIVING OFF AN INFLAMMABLE VAPOUR, HE ADDED, THE PROHIBITION WOULD BE DEFERRED UNTIL JULY 1 TO GIVE THE OIL COMPANIES. THE HONGKONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY AND THE GOVERNMENT SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TRANSPORT OF THESE PRODUCTS ACROSS THE HARBOUR.

EXEMPTIONS WERE ALSO EXTENDED TO THE FIRE SERVICES, AMBULANCE, POLICE AND CIVIL DEFENCE VEHICLES AND OTHER VEHICLES PERMITTED BY THE TUNNEL MANAGER TO USE THE TUNNEL IN AN EMERGENCY.

THE BY-LAWS WERE MADE BY THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY LIMITED ON JANUARY 4.

CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO SERVICING AND TRANSPORTATION

NEEDS OF TEMPORARY HOUSING RESIDENTS

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THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR. DAVID MCDONALD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT AT THE PLANNING STAGE OF TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO THE SERVICING AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF THE FUTURE RESIDENTS.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR. THE HON. HO KAM-FAI AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.

+AN ASSESSMENT IS MADE OF THE PEDESTRIAN ROUTES RESIDENTS ARE LIKELY TO ADOPT IN ORDER TO REACH PUBLIC TRANSPORT, MARKETS AND OTHER FACILITIES AND, DEPENDENT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CASE, FOOTPATHS, ZEBRA OR SIGNAL-CONTROLLED CROSSINGS OR TEMPORARY FOOTBRIDGES MAY BE PLANNED FOR INSTALLATION TO PHASE IN WITH THE COMPLETION AND OCCUPATION OF THE TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS, HE SAID,

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PRACTICE, MR. MCDONALD SAID TEMPORARY FOOTBRIDGES WERE PROVIDED AT THE CORNWALL STREET AND MA CHAI HANG TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS AND A SIGNAL-CONTROLLED CROSSING WAS INSTALLED IN KOWLOON BAY.

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