XN000022-1976-03-26 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1976

LEGISLATION TO ENSURE SAFETY OF CABLE CAR SYSTEMS

******

THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO CONTROL THE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THE DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND INSTALLATION OF AERIAL ROPEWAYS AS WELL AS THEIR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.

THE LEGISLATION IS CONTAINED IN THE AERIAL ROPEWAYS (SAFETY) BILL 1976 WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE AND WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE PUT BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

AN AERIAL ROPEWAY IS DEFINED AS ANY APPARATUS FOR THE OVERHEAD TRANSPORT OF PASSENGERS OR GOODS IN CARRIERS RUNNING ALONG OR DRAWN BY OVERHEAD CABLES SUPPORTED BY TOWERS, PYLONS OR OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES. ALSO COVERED ARE ANY MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT OR PLANT USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE APPARATUS.

UNDER THE BILL, PLANS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN AERIAL ROPEWAY MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL AND NO AERIAL ROPEWAY MAY COMMENCE OPERATION WITHOUT HIS AUTHORITY.

ONE OF THE CLAUSES IN THE BILL PROHIBITS THE PASSAGE OF AN AERIAL ROPEWAY OVER ANY BUILDING WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR AND ANOTHER MAKES THE PERSON INSTALLING AN AERIAL ROPEWAY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT CONSTRUCTION WORK DOES NOT CAUSE UNDUE OBSTRUCTION OF ANY ROAD, SHIPPING CHANNEL OR RAILWAY OR CAUSE ANY HAZARD TO AIR NAVIGATION.

OTHER CLAUSES IN THE BILL DEAL WITH ASPECTS RELATED TO REPAIRS OR ALTERATIONS PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES FOR THE CONTROL AND SAFETY OF PEOPLE USING THE ROPEWAY- THE AUTHORITY OF THE DIRECTOR TO ORDER THE CLOSURE OF AN AERIAL ROPEWAY IN THE INTERESTS OF SAFETY AND THE KEEPING OF RECORDS.

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IS ALSO EMPOWERED TO PUBLISH A CODE OF PRACTICE GOVERNING THE DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND INSTALLATION OF AERIAL ROPEWAYS.

CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE LEGISLATION WILL APPLY TO ANY AERIAL ROPEWAY IN EXISTENCE WHEN THE BILL IS ENACTED.

COMMENTING ON THE LEGISLATION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE AERIAL ROPEWAYS (SAFETY) BILL 1976 HAS BEEN DRAWN UP IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ORGANIZZAZIONE

INTERNATIONAL DEI TRANSPORTIA FUNE (OITAF), WHICH IS THE INTERNATIONAL BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF CABLE CAR SYSTEMS DESIGNED FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION,

+ IT IS INTENDED THAT THE DETAILED PROVISIONS OF THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF DESIGN AND OPERATION SHOULD BE CONTAINED IN REGULATIONS AND IN A CODE OF PRACTICE PRESCRIBED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLISHED IN THE GAZZETTE.

+AMENDMENTS TO THIS CODE WILL BE MADE BY THE DIRECTOR ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF OITAF, OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON WHICH HE CONS IDERS TO REQUIRE SUCH AMENDMENTS FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF AERIAL ROPEWAYS IN HONG KONG+, HE SAID.

/2