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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1985

10 000 OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES IN EASTERN

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THERE ARE ABOUT 10 000 OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES IN EASTERN DISTRICT, MOST OF THEM IN HOUSING ESTATES AND RESERVED FOR RESIDENTS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON IAN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY.

HOWEVER, MANY OF THESE ESTATES WITH COMMERCIAL CENTRES ALSO MAKE SPACES AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, HE ADDED.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR MACPHERSON SAID THERE ARE 721 METERED ON-STREET SPACES OF WHICH 486 ARE IN CAUSEWAY BAY AND NORTH POINT, 79 IN SHAU KEI WAN AND 156 IN CHAI WAN.

ONE HUNDRED OTHER ON-STREET PARKING SPACES HAD BEEN SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF WORK ON THE MTR ISLAND LINE, BUT THEY WOULD SOON BE MADE AVAILABLE AGAIN, HE SAID.

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FIRE SERVICES LIABILITY EXPLAINED *****

THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT LIABLE TO PAY COMPENSATION FOR ANY DAMAGE DONE BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT DURING FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS OR IN THE COURSE OF CARRYING OUT ITS OTHER DUTIES UNDER THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE, UNLESS IT COULD BE SHOWN THAT THE DEPARTMENT OR ITS PERSONNEL HAD BEEN NEGLIGENT.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TO A QUESTION BY THE HON WONG LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE SAID THAT MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ALSO NOT BE LIABLE INDIVIDUALLY TO ANY ACTION FOR DAMAGES AS LONG AS THEY WERE BONA FIDE CARRYING OUT IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES UNDER POWERS CONFERRED BY THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE.

BUT THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE DID SPECIFICALLY PROVIDE THAT ANY DAMAGE DONE BY THE DEPARTMENT OR ITS PERSONNEL IN THE COURSE OF CARRYING OUT THEIR LEGITIMATE DUTIES ON THE OCCASION OF A FIRE WOULD BE DEEMED TO BE DAMAGE BY FIRE WITHIN THE MEANING OF ANY POLICY OF INSURANCE AGAINST FIRE, HE SAID.

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