XN000022-1977-07-27 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1977

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MEASURES TO MINIMISE ACCIDENTS IN KWAI CHUNG ROAD

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS ADOPTED SEVERAL MEASURES TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF FURTHER ACCIDENTS TO PEDESTRIANS IN KWAI CHUNG ROAD NEAR THE CONTAINER TERMINAL FLYOVER SINCE THE RECENT TRAGIC ACCIDENT THERE, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES SAID.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. S.L. CHEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MR. JONES SAID THESE MEASURES COMPRISED INTENS IF LED POLICE ACTION AGAINST JAY-WALKERS- THE SETTING UP OF AN ANTI-DAZZLE FENCE ALONG THE CENTRAL DIVIDE OF THE ROAD- REMOVAL OF A RAILING AT THE EASTERN END OF THE FLYOVER TO ENABLE RESIDENTS OF LAI KING ESTATE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGE ON THE FLYOVER BY MEANS OF A FLIGHT OF STEPS- AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW FOOTPATH TO LINK THE PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGE ON THE FLYOVER WITH ANOTHER FLIGHT OF STEPS FROM LAI KING ESTATE.

HE SAID THE ANTI-DAZZLE FENCE, APART FROM ACTING AS A BARRIER AND THUS A FURTHER DETERRENT TO JAY-WALKERS, WOULD IMPROVE MOTORING SAFETY BY REDUCING HEADLIGHT GLARE. THE WORK WOULD BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT SIX WEEKS.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW FOOTPATH WOULD BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT FOUR WEEKS.

MR. JONES SAID THE EFFECT OF THE MEASURES TO REMOVE THE RAILING AND TO BUILD THE NEW FOOTPATH WOULD BE TO MAKE IT MUCH EASIER FOR RESIDENTS OF LAI KING ESTATE TO CROSS THAT BUSY ROAD BY MEANS OF THE FOOTBRIDGE.

MARINE COURT TO INVESTIGATE HYDROFOIL-FERRY COLLISION

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A MARINE COURT WILL SHORTLY BE CONVENED TO INVESTIGATE FULLY THE COLLISION BETWEEN A HYDROFOIL AND A FERRY WHICH OCCURRED ON MARCH 2 THIS YEAR, THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. GARTH THORNTON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG, MR. THORNTON SAID LEGAL ADVICE ORIGINALLY TENDERED ON THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE HYDROFOIL, FLYING ALBATROSS, AND THE FERRY, MAN TAK, WAS THAT A MARINE COURT WAS NOT WARRANTED BECAUSE A COMPREHENSIVE PRELIMINARY INQUIRY HAD ALREADY BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.

+HOWEVER, FOLLOWING THE TABLING OF DR. CHUNG'S QUESTIONS AT THE LAST SITTING OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR. HOBLEY, HAS PERSONALLY CONSIDERED THE PAPERS, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, AND HAS ADVISED THAT A MARINE COURT IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE GREATER CERTAINTY AS TO SOME OF THE FACTS,+ MR. THORNTON EXPLAINED.

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, HAD ACCEPTED THAT ADVICE AND A MARINE COURT WOULD BE SET UP.

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