XN000022-1989-01-12 — Page 24

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1989

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FUNDS APPROVED FOR PROVISION OF SIGNALLING SYSTEMS

THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE TERRITORY'S FIRST PILOT VEHICLE WEIGH-STATION WAS TAKEN ON WEDNESDAY WHEN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED $2.85 MILLION FOR THE PROVISION OF THREE COMPREHENSIVE SIGNALLING SYSTEMS WHICH WILL DIRECT OVERLOADED TO THE NEW MA LIU SHUI WEIGH-STATION.

LORRIES

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO TACKLE OVERLOADING MORE EFFECTIVELY IT WAS PROPOSED TO PROVIDE THE POLICE WITH UP TO FOUR VEHICLE WEIGH-STATIONS TO THE LATEST INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

ALL WOULD INVOLVE SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT UNDER ROADS ENABLING INSTANT IDENTIFICATION OF OVERLOADED VEHICLES. AS THEY APPROACHED ALONG A HIGHWAY CONNECTED TO A SYSTEM OF SIGNS OFFENDING OVERLOADED VEHICLES WOULD BE DIRECTED OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO A POUND WHERE THEIR EXACT OVERWEIGHT COULD BE CONFIRMED, THE EXCESS REMOVED AND AN APPROPRIATE PENALTY IMPOSED BEFORE THE DRIVER WAS ALLOWED TO LEAVE.

SO FAR TWO SUITABLE SITES HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED, ONE AT MA LIU SHUI OFF TOLO HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER AT SIU LAM OFF TUEN MUN HIGHWAY. SITE SEARCHES WERE CONTINUING IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG ISLAND AND KOWLOON.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE FIRST WEIGH-STATION BE SET UP AT MA LIU SHUI THIS YEAR AS IT IS HEAVILY USED BY TRUCKS GOING TO AND FROM CHINA. THIS COULD SERVE AS A PILOT PROJECT SO THAT ANY PROBLEMS THAT EMERGE COULD BE IRONED OUT AND ADJUSTMENTS MADE FOR INCORPORATION INTO SUBSEQUENT PROJECTS.

LOCATION OF THE WEIGH-STATION AT MA LIU SHUI WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO APPREHEND IN ONE LOCATION NOT ONLY ALL THE PRESENT NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND OVERLOADED VEHICLES ON TOLO HIGHWAY BUT ALSO THOSE USING THE TRUCK ROAD CONNECTING THE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL.

AS THERE ARE THREE APPROACHES TO THE WEIGH-STATION EACH WILL REQUIRE A HIGH SPEED AXLE LOAD MEASURING SENSOR.

EQUIPMENT (MOSTLY PORTABLE) AT PRESENT AVAILABLE TO THE POLICE, AND THAT OPERATED BY OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, FALLS FAR SHORT OF THE LEVEL REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF OVERLOADING OFFENCES.

ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF POLICE CHECK POINTS CAN REALISTICALLY BE SET UP, THEREFORE, AND EVEN WHERE DRIVERS AS SUSPECTED IT TAKES A CONSIDERABLE TIME TO ESCORT THEIR VEHICLES, SOMETIMES FROM RELATIVELY REMOTE AREAS WHERE THEY MIGHT BE APPREHENDED, ΤΟ DEPARTMENTAL

WEIGH-STATIONS.

/SURVEYS CONDUCTED