XN000022-1987-05-31 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1987

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO SAID THAT A GOVERNMENT WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MISS ELAINE CHUNG, WITH MEMBERS FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH, FINANCE BRANCH AND CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH HAD BEEN SET UP TO CONSIDER WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FEASIBLE AND DESIRABLE AND HOW BEST TO IMPLEMENT THEM.

A TOTAL OF 2 600 COPIES OF THE SUMMARY OF PUBLIC OPINION IN ENGLISH AND 2 200 IN CHINESE HAVE BEEN PRINTED AND ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO ALL STAFF GROUPS. PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS AND COMMUNITY BODIES CONCERNED. COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.

PROVISIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR LOADING OF VEHICLES

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GOODS CARRIED ON TRUCKS ARE SOMETIMES NOT PROPERLY SECURED, THUS PUTTING AT RISK THE LIVES OF PEOPLE ON BOARD AND OTHER ROAD USERS.

BESIDES BEING HAPHAZARDLY FASTENED, LOADS ARE ALSO OFTEN SEEN TO BE WRONGLY LADEN.

TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS PRODUCED A PROVISIONAL CODE WHICH EXPLAINS IN DETAIL, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES TO BE ADOPTED FOR TRANSPORTING LOADS SAFELY.

KNOWN AS THE PROVISIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE LOADING OF VEHICLES+, IT IS AIMED AT GIVING ADVICE TO GOODS VEHICLE OPERATORS ON THE SAFE WAY TO LOAD THE IR VEHICLES WITHOUT ENDANGER ING THEMSELVES AND OTHER ROAD USERS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE PROVISIONAL CODE IS PUBLISHED AS A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON WHICH INTERESTED PARTIES CAN COMMENT. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO TRUCK OPERATORS IN MID-JUNE.

HE INDICATED THAT THE ACTUAL CODE ITSELF IS EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED SOME TIME NEXT YEAR AND WILL BE AVAILABLE IN BOTH LANGUAGES.

+WHILE THE PROVISIONAL CODE WILL NOT HAVE THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE CODE ITSELF, IT IS HOPED THAT GOODS VEHICLE OPERATORS WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF FOLLOWING THE ADVICE IT CONTAINS IN ORDER TO ENHANCE NOT ONLY THE SAFETY OF VEHICLES AND PERSONNEL ENGAGED IN THESE OPERATIONS, BUT ALSO USERS GENERALLY, HE SAID.

/AT PRESENT