XN000022-1993-03-15 — Page 7

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1993

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THE SWAC MEMBERS, WHILE GIVING A GREENLIGHT TO THE MEASURES, NOTED THAT A "BLISTER" PROGRAMME HAD BEEN INTRODUCED IN 1989/90 ΤΟ INCREASE THE STUDENT INTAKES OF BOTH THE DEGRER AND DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES.

ON SUPPLY OF SOCIAL WORK DEGREE GRADUATES, MR FUNG SAID: "AN OVERALL SURPLUS IS ANTICIPATED IN 1994/95 AND THEREAFTER, AND A CUMULATIVE SURPLUS OF 268 DEGREE GRADUATES IS FORECAST FOR THE YEAR 1996/97."

THE SURPLUS COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE GOVERNMENT'S EXPAND DEGREE PLACES IN TERTIARY EDUCATION, HE EXPLAINED.

PLAN ΤΟ

ROAD IMPROVEMENT MEASURES ON STEEP ROADS COMPLETED

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ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES HAVE BEEN ADOPTED ON 39 STEEP ROADS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY ΤΟ ENHANCE THEIR SAFETY FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.

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THE REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR AND COVERED SOME 100 STEEP ROADS WITH A GRADIENT STEEPER THAN 1 : 10 THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.

ITS PURPOSE WAS TO CRITICALLY EXAMINE THE CONDITIONS OF THE STEEP ROADS WITH EMPHASIS ON SAFETY ASPECTS, PARTICULARLY ON THE USE OF SUCH ROADS BY HEAVY VEHICLES INCLUDING BUSES, THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING (HONG KONG) DIVISION OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, MR WILLIAM LIEW, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

THE REVIEW EXAMINED SEVERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES INCLUDING ROAD SURFACE TREATMENT, CRASH BARRIERS, GUARD RAILINGS AND TRAFFIC SIGNS.

IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THESE SAFETY MEASURES WERE ADEQUATE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT ROAD SURFACE TREATMENT IMPROVED THE SKID RESISTANCE OF ROAD SURFACE TO REDUCE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OP VEHICLES.

CRASH BARRIERS ARE INSTALLED AT BENDS TO PREVENT VEHICLES OVER-SHOOTING IF SKIDDING OCCURS.

GUARD-RAILINGS PREVENT ILLEGAL PARKING OF VEHICLES ON ROADS. TRAFFIC SIGNS INFORM MOTORISTS OF THE GRADIENT OF THE AND ADVISE THEM TO ENGAGE LOW GRAR.

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OF THE ROADS SURVEYED, MEASURES WERE RECOMMENDED FOR 39 ROADS, OF WHICH 15 ARE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, NINE IN KOWLOON AND 15 THE NEW TERRITORIES.

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