XN000022-1984-08-11 — Page 5

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1964-

GROUP TO LOOK INTO CMB MAINTENANCE WORK

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT A WORKING GROUP THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE SET UP TO INVESTIGATE THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY'S MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMES FOLLOWING JANUARY'S HAPPY VALLEY BUS TRAGEDY. THE WORKING GROUP WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

ON MARCH 27 A JURY OF THE CORONER'S COURT RETURNED A VERDICT OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER ON THE WONG NAI CHUNG ROAD BUS ACCIDENT ON JANUARY 28, WITH 18 RIDERS, WHICH INCLUDE CALLING FOR THE SETTING UP OF A BOARD OF INQUIRY TO EXAMINE FULLY CURRENT PRACTICES, METHODS AND PROCEDURES OF THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY AND OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT RELATING TO THE RUNNING, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE AND CERTIFICATION OF PASSENGER FLEET VEHICLES.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS EXAMINED VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH AN INQUIRY COULD BE CARRIED OUT, INCLUDING APPOINTMENT OF AN OUTSIDE FIRM OF CONSULTANTS OR THE APPOINTMENT OF A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY BY THE GOVERNOR.

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, A FORMAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY WAS CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE BECAUSE THE INTENTION WAS NCT TO RE-EXAMINE THE CAUSES OF THE ACCIDENT; NOR WOULD THE APPOINTMENT OF AN OUTSIDE FIRM OF CONSULTANTS BE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE MORE PRODUCTIVE FOR PEOPLE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE COMMUNITY OF HONG KONG TO BE INVOLVED,

IT WAS THEREFORE DECIDED THAT A COMMITTEE OF REVIEW, TO BL CALLED THE +WORK ING GROUP OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE : CMB MAINTENANCE+, SHOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH THE FOLLOWING TERMS OF REFERENCE:

+ IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECOMMENDATION OF CORONER'S

COURT OF MARCH 27, 1984, TO EXAMINE THE PRACTICES, METHODS AND PROCEDURES OF THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY LIMITED FOR THE RUNNING, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF ITS PASSENGER BUS FLEET, TO EXAMINE THE PRACTICES, METHODS AND PROCEDURES OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT FOR ITS ROAD-WORTHINESS AND FITNESS INSPECTIONS OF OMNIBUSES, AND TO REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

TO THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITHIN THREE MONTHS.+

THE WORK ING GROUP WILL BE CHAIRED BY MR STEPHEN CHEONG, WHO IS BOTH AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND A MEMBER OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

TWO OTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SITTING ON THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL ALS. SIT ON THE WORK ING GROUP - MR CHAN KAM-CHUEN, AND MR F.K. -, A HE LE THE TAC MAINTENANCE SUB-GROUP.

/OTHER MEMS