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THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1990
BOTH THE LIGHTING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS WERE CONTROLLED AUTOMATICALLY BY SENSORS INSTALLED INSIDE THE TUNNELS, MR KWONG SAID.
HE ADDED THAT NOT ONLY WOULD ROUTE 5 HELP MOTORISTS SAVE ABOUT 35 MINUTES IN TRAVELLING TIME BETWEEN THE SHA TIN AND TSUEN WAN NEW TOWNS, IT WOULD ALSO HELP ALLEVIATE CONGESTION IN THE LION TUNNEL TAI PO ROAD.
AND
NEW AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY OF LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES
* * * *
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED SEVERAL LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS AIMED AT INTRODUCING SAFETY MEASURES ΤΟ TACKLE THE HIGH ACCIDENT RATE OF LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES.
ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS WILL MAKE IT MANDATORY то INSTALL AND RETAIN A SAFETY PARTITION IN LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES BETWEEN THE PASSENGERS AND GOODS COMPARTMENTS, THUS ENHANCING THE PROTECTION OF THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS IN THE SEATING ACCOMMODATION.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT NEWLY MANUFACTURED VAN-TYPE LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES WERE INSTALLED WITH SUCH
SAFETY PARTITIONS.
HOWEVER, MOST OPERATORS HAVE REMOVED THE PARTITIONS ΤΟ ALLOW FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN USING THE VEHICLE FOR PASSENGER AND GOODS CARRIAGE.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT PROHIBITS THE INSTALLATION OF SIDE WINDOWS IN THE GOODS COMPARTMENT OF VAN-TYPE LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES.
THE AMENDMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES WOULD COME INTO OPERATION ON JULY 1 THIS YEAR BUT THERE WOULD BE A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD OF ONE YEAR TO ENSURE THAT OWNERS OF EXISTING VEHICLES HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CONVERSION.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED THAT THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL, PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY, SHOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
UNDER THE BILL, THE PRIVATE CAR INSPECTION SCHEME, WHEREBY ALL PRIVATE CARS OVER SIX YEARS OLD ARE SUBJECT TO ANNUAL INSPECTION, WILL BE EXTENDED TO COVER LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES NOT EXCEEDING 1.9 TONNES.
AT PRESENT, THE TRANSPORT GOODS VEHICLES OVER 12 YEARS OLD.
DEPARTMENT EXAMINES ANNUALLY ONLY
/THE INSPECTION