CO129-549-3 Gas explosion disaster 15-5-1934 - 10-1-1935 — Page 18

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The Jury stated that this might be satisfactory in temperate climates in cases where holders are reasonably isolated, permitting the safe dispersal of any leakage, and where the pressure of the gas alone needed to be considered but it suggested that steps should be taken to set a higher local standard of maintenance, especially including internal

examination.

3.

The Jury's finding was amplified in a memorandum sent in by the Coroner who gave it as his opinion from the evidence before him that, in the particular position of the gasometer under the lee of comparatively high buildings, the North East Monsoon, which prevails in winter, was a contributory factor to the weakness of the gasometer. That this was also the Jury's opinion appears likely from their remark as to places "where the pressure of the gas alone needed to be considered".

4.

There would appear to be a case for more stringent control of the gasometers in Hong Kong, where strong winds and the proximity of high buildings are the rule rather than the exception, than is necessary at home and in the circumstances I enquired from the Gas Company whether it would be prepared to undertake internal examinations by approved experts of all the holders owned by them. The Gas Company's reply, to the effect that they were prepared to agree to an internal examination of each of the older gasometers, was not phrased in such a manner as to reassure me that they would be prepared to arrange for periodical internal examination of all their holders. The Company stated that compulsory internal examina- tion has no precedent in English practice and added that the question of inspection of Gas holders was gone into very thoroughly by the Ministry of Health and the Home Office after