THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
EXCO ENDORSES CLOSER MONITORING OF CMB
*****
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ENDORSED THE CLOSER MONITORING OF THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY TO ENSURE THAT IT MAKES SATISFACTORY PROGRESS IN IMPROVING ITS MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES. THIS FOLLOWS CONSIDERATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORKING GROUP ON CMB MAINTENANCE, AS CONTAINED IN ITS REPORT PUBLISHED TODAY.
STARTING IMMEDIATELY, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD HIGH-LEVEL MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THE COMPANY AND SUBMIT WRITTEN PROGRESS REPORTS TO THE TAC.
+THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR CMB TO MAKE THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS MAINTENANCE STANDARDS,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
+UNDER THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICES ORDINANCE, BEFORE ANY FRANCHISE MAY BE EXTENDED, THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL IS REQUIRED TO BE SATISFIED THAT THE GRANTEE IS CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING A PROPER AND EFFICIENT SERVICE. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY IN IMPROVING ITS MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS OVER THE COMING MONTHS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT IN CONSIDERING ANY EXTENSION OF THE COMPANY'S FRANCHISE BEYOND THE PRESENT EXPIRY DATE OF AUGUST 31, 1987.+
THE TAC WORKING GROUP ON CMB MAINTENANCE WAS SET UP IN AUGUST LAST YEAR IN RESPONSE TO A CALL BY THE JURY IN THE CORONER'S INQUIRY INTO A CMB BUS ACCIDENT IN HAPPY VALLEY EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR STEPHEN CHEONG, THE WORK ING GROUP SPENT MUCH TIME AND EFFORT ON THE REVIEW AND SUBMITTED ITS DETAILED REPORT TO THE TAC IN DECEMBER. BEFORE THE REPORT WAS CONSIDERED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE TAC EXAMINED THE COMMENTS ON IT FROM THE BUS COMPANY, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE.
THE TAC ENDORSED THE REPORT. WHILE NOTING THAT A FEW OF THE MORE MINOR RECOMMENDATIONS MAY REQUIRE MODIFICATION.
THE WORKING GROUP FOUND CMB MAINTENANCE TO BE LESS THAN SATISFACTORY.
+MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES WERE INSUFFICIENTLY THOROUGH AND QUALITY CONTROL INADEQUATE. INSUFFICIENT EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON THE FORMAL TRAINING OF THE MAINTENANCE WORKFORCE AND SUPERVISORY STAFF. MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS WERE FOUND TO BE POORLY PLANNED, DEPOT FACILITIES WERE UNSATISFACTORY, AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE INCOMPLETE AND DISORGANISED, THE
+ SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN THEE
મ
+