XN000022-1980-07-20 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, JULY 20, 1980

HE EMPHASISED THAT MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT REGULARLY, INCLUDING TESTING OF INSULATION, EARTH CONNECTION, AND THE EFFICIENCY OF THE EQUIPMENT'S FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER.

IN ADDITION, THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IS USED SHOULD BE IMPROVED AND WORKERS SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED ON THE SAFE USE OF ELECTRICITY.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT WET WEATHER WAS AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE RECENT ACCIDENTS.

+ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND WIRING TEND TO BECOME FAULTY MORE EASILY IN THE TYPHOON OR RAINY SEASON ESPECIALLY IN THE ROUGH WORKING CONDITIONS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES.

+WET HANDS FROM RAIN OR EXCESSIVE SWEATING IN THE HOT WEATHER ALSO INCREASE THE CHANCES OF ELECTROCUTION, HE ADDED.

BUSY TRAFFIC AT LION ROCK TUNNEL

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THE CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN AND THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING HOUSED THERE HAVE GREATLY INCREASED THE TRAFFIC VOLUME AT THE LION ROCK TUNNEL.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT IN 1979, A TOTAL OF 9.37 MILLION VEHICLES USED THE TUNNEL, REPRESENTING A 21.78 PER CENT INCREASE OVER 1978,

OF THE TOTAL TRAFFIC VOLUME, 70.8 PER CENT WERE PRIVATE CARS OR MOTOR-CYCLES, 14.6 PER CENT WERE GOODS VEHICLES WEIGHING TWO TONS OR LESS AND ANOTHER 14.6 PER CENT WERE GOODS VEHICLES AND OMNIBUSES OVER TWO TONS.

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT FRANCHISED BUS JOURNEYS MADE NEW RECORDS IN 1979, WITH A TOTAL OF 274 768 TUNNEL TRIPS.

DURING THE YEAR, THE BUS COMPANIES OPERATED FOUR DAILY SERVICES VIA THE TUNNEL. IN ADDITION, 10 RECREATIONAL SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF RACE-GOERS ATTENDING MEETINGS AT THE SHA TIN RACECOURSE.

HOWEVER, THERE WAS A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES USING THE TUNNEL TO GO TO SHA TIN TO DUMP EARTH UPON COMPLETION OF MTR EXCAVATION WORKS.

THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VEHICLES USING THE TUNNEL IN A SINGLE DAY IN 1979, AT 36 427, WAS RECORDED ON DECEMBER 1, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. FURTHERMORE, THE 1978 RECORD OF 30 545 WAS EXCEEDED ON NO LESS THAN 36 OCCASIONS DURING THE YEAR.

/ON REVENUE