XN000022-1986-07-23 — Page 32

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 1986

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CO-OPERATION TO SOLVE TYPHOON TRAFFIC URGED

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THE CO-OPERATION OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WOULD BE REQUIRED IN HELPING TO SOLVE THE STRAIN ON THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM DURING A TYPHOON, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LEE YU-TAI, MR LIAO SAID IT WAS NOT THE TIMING OF HOISTING OR ANNOUNCING THE NO 8 SIGNAL BUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT AS SUCH THAT CAUSED THE STRAIN TO THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM WHEN EVERYONE RUSHED HOME AT THE SAME TIME.

MR LIAO SAID CO-OPERATION WOULD BE REQUIRED SO THAT DISPERSAL OF STAFF COULD BE MORE EVENLY SPREAD OUT, BEARING IN MIND THAT NORMALLY THERE WERE AT LEAST SIX TO 12 HOURS BEFORE GALE OR STORM FORCE WINDS AFFECTED THE TERRITORY.

THE GOVERNMENT AS THE EMPLOYER OF THE LARGEST WORKFORCE WILL BE LOOKING INTO THE MATTER, HE ADDED.

MR LIAO SAID THE HOISTING OF THE NO 8 SIGNAL MEANT THAT BALE STORM FORCE WINDS WITH SPEEDS OF 63 TO 117 KILOMETRES PER HOUR WERE EXPECTED IN HONG KONG AND WAS AIMED TO GIVE ADVANCE WARNING OF THE ONSET OF GALES.

+ THE WARNING, WHICH ENABLES EVERYONE ESPECIALLY THOSE AT SEA TO TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS, MUST HAVE REGARD TO THE TIME WHEN THE RELEVANT WEATHER DATA AND THEIR ASSESSMENTS BECOME AVAILABLE.

+GIVEN THE ERRATIC BEHAVIOUR OF TYPHOONS, PREMATURE HOISTING OF A SIGNAL WOULD LEAD TO UNNECESSARY DISRUPTION WHILE DELAY MAY ENDANGER LIVES,+ HE SAID.

MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT SINCE MAJOR CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO PUBLIC SAFETY, IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE OR EVEN DANGEROUS IF THE HOISTING OF THE NO 8 SIGNAL WERE TO BE RESTRICTED ONLY TO CERTAIN HOURS OF THE DAY OR NIGHT.

+FURTHERMORE, THERE WILL BE OCCASIONS, AS IN THE PAST, WHEN INCOMING OBSERVATIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED ON THE TYPHOON INDICATES IMMINENT DANGER THEREBY WARRANTING THE IMMEDIATE HOISTING OF THE SIGNAL, HE ADDED.

MR LIAO SAID THAT DURING THE APPROACH OF A TYPHOON, THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY WAS IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS TO ENABLE THEM TO PLAN FOR THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COMMUTERS AND, IF NECESSARY, MAKE APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS BEFORE THE SUSPENSION OR RESUMPTION OF SERVICĖS.

/THE DIRECTOR