XN000022-1987-01-14 — Page 37

35

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1987

MR BRIDGE SAID THE TWO OFFICERS FROM THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE WITHIN AN HOUR OF RECEIVING A REPORT OF THE INCIDENT AND HAD BEGUN A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.

THE MAN WAS FOUND DEAD IN A NEUTRALISING TANK CONTAINING CORROSIVE LIQUIDS. MR BRIDGE SAID THE TANK WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN HONG KONG.

+ THE OPENING OF THE TANK WAS ALREADY WELL PROTECTED BY A RAISED WALL, RAILINGS AND TOE-BOARDS OF ADEQUATE HEIGHT AND COMPLIED WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATION 24 OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REGULATIONS,+ HE SAID.

HOWEVER, ON THE INSPECTORS' ADVICE, THE GAS COMPANY HAD SEALED OFF THE OPENING WITH WOODEN PLANKS. THE COMPANY HAD ALSO BEEN ADVISED TO PLACE ADDITIONAL EMPHASIS ON SAFETY IN ITS IN-HOUSE TRAINING COURSES.

+ IF AN INQUEST IS HELD, ANY SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH THE CORONER MAY MAKE WILL BE ENERGETICALLY FOLLOWED UP,+ MR BRIDGE ADDED.

NEW ROADS ESTIMATED TO COST $2 BILLION

*****

THE ESTIMATED COST OF PROVIDING NEW ROADS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS IN THE ORDER OF $2 BILLION PER ANNUM, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON DAVID LAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER POON, MR LAN SAID THE OVERALL TRAFFIC GROWTH IN THE TERRITORY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 5 PER CENT PER ANNUM, WITH HIGHER GROWTH RATE FORECAST FOR GOODS VEHICLE TRIPS AND LOWER GROWTH FOR PRIVATE VEHICLE TRIPS.

+TO COPE WITH THIS AND ANTICIPATED TRAFFIC GROWTH BEYOND THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NUMBER OF MAJOR HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS HAS EITHER STARTED OR IS AT THE DETAILED PLANNING STAGE,+ MR LAN SAID.

+THESE INCLUDE,