XN000022-1984-12-05 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1984

FULL STATEMENT ON KCR INCIDENT DUE

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AFTER CONSIDERING THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY REPORT ON THE RECENT TRAIN INCIDENTS, THE GOVERNOR WILL DECIDE WHETHER A PUBLIC ENQUIRY IS NEEDED AND WHAT FORM IT MAY TAKE.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+WHATEVER HIS DECISION MAY BE, THERE WILL IN ANY CASE BE A FULL PUBLIC STATEMENT, BECAUSE THE KCRC AND THE GOVERNMENT ARE MOST FULLY AWARE THAT IN SUCH MATTERS, THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IS ESSENTIAL,+ MR SCOTT SAID.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION ON THE SUBJECT FROM THE HON PAULINE NG.

MR SCOTT TOLD THE COUNCIL THE PROCEDURES FOR INFORMING PASSENGERS OF THE LIKELY EFFECTS OF DISRUPTION IN KCRC SERVICES WERE UNDER REVIEW.

+A BALANCE HAS TO BE FOUND BETWEEN INCONVENIENCING PASSENGERS ON THE SYSTEM BY KEEPING THEM WAITING WHILE THE LIKELY LEVEL OF SERVICE DISRUPTION IS ASSESSED, AND FRUSTRATING INTENDING PASSENGERS BY ANNOUNCING THAT SERVICES ARE DISRUPTED FOR INDEFINITE PERIODS.

+THE KCRC HAS ALREADY DECIDED TO STRENGTHEN THE EMERGENCY PASSENGER SERVICE TEAMS WHICH ARE SENT OUT TO STATIONS AFFECTED BY DISRUPTED SERVICE, HE REPORTED.

MR SCOTT SAID THAT LIKE THE COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DISRUPTIONS IN TRAIN SERVICES AND HAD BEEN OBSERVING THE MATTER CLOSELY.

UNDER THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION ORDINANCE, THE KCRC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EFFICIENT AND SAFE OPERATION OF ITS SERVICES.

INSPECTORS MAY BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, UNDER THE ORDINANCE. FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THE RAILWAY AND OF INVESTIGATING ANY ACCIDENT ON ANY PART OF THE RAILWAY.

+ INSPECTORS HAVE BEEN SO APPOINTED FOR THE FORMER PURPOSE FOR MANY YEARS, THE MOST RECENT BEING THE FINAL INSPECTION IN MID-1983 BY AN INSPECTOR OF RAILWAYS OF THE UK MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT BEFORE THE PUBLIC OPENING OF THE FINAL STAGE OF ELECTRIFICATION OF THE KCR.

+THE INSPECTOR HAS BEEN INVITED TO RETURN EARLY IN 1985, SOMEWHAT EARLIER THAN WAS ENVISAGED FOR HIS REGULAR VISIT,+ FR SCOTT SAID.

THE ORDINANCE