WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986
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TO DATE, FOUR FAMILIES WERE RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND A NUMBER OF FAMILIES CONCERNED WERE CONSIDERING WHETHER THEY WISHED TO SEEK SUCH ASSISTANCE.
MR GREWAL SAID ONE PERSON HAD APPLIED FOR LEGAL AID TO DATE. AND OTHERS MIGHT DO SO AT THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT'S MAIN OFFICE AT 66 QUEENSWAY OR AT THE BRANCH OFFICE AT RITZ BUILDING, AND ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE MADE ON REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS TO BE COMPLETED AT THE HOSPITAL.
TURNING TO INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT, MR GREWAL SAID
THIS WAS BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE POLICE.
UP TO 100 STATEMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN AND THE EVIDENCE OF EXPERTS COLLECTED, INCLUDING FORENSIC EVIDENCE, HE SAID.
ON COMPLETION OF THE INVESTIGATION, A REPORT WOULD BE MADE TO THE CORONER WHO WOULD DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT A PUBLIC HEARING SHOULD BE HELD, AND THE POLICE FILE WOULD BE REFERRED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS FOR CONSIDERATION ON WHETHER THERE WERE ANY GROUNDS FOR PROSECUTION.
THE SUBSTANCE OF THE REPORT ITSELF WOULD NOT BE MADE PUBLIC OTHER THAN THROUGH THE COURTS OF HONG KONG, MR GREWAL SAID.
STILL ON THE QUESTION OF BUSES, MR GREWAL SAID THE MEASURES ADOPTED BY GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE VEHICLE SAFETY INCLUDED DESIGN APPROVAL FOR EACH BUS TYPE FULL INSPECTION OF EACH INDIVIDUAL BUS BEFORE LICENSING ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION A MAJOR OVERHAUL OF BUSES AT INTERVALS OF BETWEEN THREE TO FIVE YEARS FOLLOWED BY A MORE SEARCHING EXAMINATION BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT: SPOT-CHECKS ON BUSES ON SAFETY ASPECTS AND MONITORING OF MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMES OF THE OPERATORS.
MR GREWAL SAID MEASURES WERE ALSO TAKEN TO PROMOTE THE SAFE OPERATION OF BUSES. THESE INCLUDED AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANIES ON BUS DRIVER TRAINING PROGRAMMES TESTING OF BUS DRIVERS FOR LICENSING ADJUSTMENT OF SCHEDULES TO MEET TRAFFIC CONDITIONS: TRIAL RUNS USING THE PROPOSED BUS TYPE ON A PROPOSED NEW ROUTE; DESIGN OF ROADS TO ENSURE SAFETY; AND ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND PROMPT REMEDIAL ACTION WHERE NECESSARY.
MR GREWAL ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT ANY LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THE TUEN MUN BUS ACCIDENT WOULD BE FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND REFLECTED IN GOVERNMENT'S PROCEDURES OR REQUIREMENTS, OR TAKEN UP WITH THE BUS COMPANIES, AS APPROPRIATE.
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