XN000022-1979-06-20 — Page 10

و

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1979

CLEANLINESS OF BUSES AND TRAMS

*****

CLEANLINESS, THE CONDITION OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENTS AND THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF BUSES AND TRAMS ARE SOME OF THE MANY ASPECTS OF THE OPERATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES WHICH THE INSPECTORS OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL ALWAYS CHECK IN A FORMAL VEHICLE INSPECTION.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. G. BARNES, REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG.

+THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT BUSES AND TRAMS ARE CLEAN ENOUGH AS THE NIGHTLY DEPOT CLEANING IS OFTEN NOT SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE REMAINS CLEAN THROUGHOUT THE DAY, HE SAID.

MR. BARNES POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES.

IN ORDER TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR TRANSPORT SERVICES, HE EXPLAINED, A BUS IS IN USE FOR AT LEAST 18 HOURS A DAY AND MAY BE CARRYING MORE THAN 1,300 PASSENGERS IN THAT TIME.

THE COMPANIES COULD NOT SPEND MORE TIME CLEANING VEHICLES DURING THE WORKING DAY WITHOUT AFFECTING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE.

+SIMILARLY UNLESS THE DEFECTS WERE VERY MARKED OR INVOLVED SAFETY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT CALL IN A BUS OFF THE ROAD SIMPLY TO HAVE IT CLEANED OR A SEAT REPAIRED,+ HE SAID.

IN

THUNDERSTORM ALERT EXPLAINED

*****

STAFF OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ARE IMMEDIATELY ALERTED AND PUT ON 24 HOURS STAND-BY DUTY ON RECEIPT OF HEAVY RAIN OR THUNDERSTORM WARNING AND THE RAISING OF STORM WARNING SIGNALS, THE HON, WILLIAM BELL, ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+THIS STAFF, SUPPORTED BY CONTRACTORS' WORKMEN AS NECESSARY, ARE EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH MOST EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, INCLUDING FLOODING, AND CLEARANCES IN MOST CASES CAN BE DEALT WITH WITHIN AN HOUR OR SO, MR. BELL SAID.

HE ADDED THAT PAST EXPERIENCE INDICATED THAT FLOODING AT THE LOCATIONS OF THE 25 BLACKSPOTS SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING HAD NOT BEEN SO SEVERE AS TO WARRANT EVACUATION.

—

/10...

Page 10Page 11