XN000022-1993-05-18 — Page 4

TUESDAY, MAY 18. 1993

FINANCIAL SECRETARY SADDENED BY STEPHEN CHEONG'S DEATH

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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, TODAY (TUESDAY) EXPRESSED HIS SORROW AT THE DEATH OF MR STEPHEN CHEONG.

HE NOTED THAT MR CHEONG HAD MADE A KEY CONTRIBUTION OVER MANY YEARS ΤΟ THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY SECTORS BY CHAMPIONING THEIR INTERESTS BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS.

"MR CHEONG HAD ALSO SERVED IN MANY SERVICE, MAINLY THROUGH ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

OTHER AREAS OF PUBLIC OF NUMEROUS BOARDS AND

"I PERSONALLY HAD THE BENEFIT OF HIS ADVICE IN THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD, AND LATER IN THE INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

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"HE WAS ALSO OF COURSE A DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN OF THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION. HE WILL BE VERY SADLY MISSED, MR MACLEOD SAID.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY

CHEONG'S FAMILY.

EXPRESSED HIS DEEP SYMPATHY TO MR

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INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO TRAIN SEPARATION COMPLETED

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THE

GOVERNMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) RELEASED THE FINDINGS OF AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTING OFFICER OF THE BRITISH RAILWAY INSPECTORATE, MR ALAN COOKSEY, INTO THE MTR TRAIN UNCOUPLING INCIDENT LAST MONTH.

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, MR COOKSEY CONFIRMED THAT MTRC HAD CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE UNCOUPLING.

THE

THE 'MOUTHPIECE' FROM THE COUPLING DEVICE ON ANOTHER TRAIN HAD BECOME DETACHED AND HAD JAMMED BETWEEN THE COUPLERS OF THE 5TH AND 6TH CARS OF THE INCIDENT TRAIN ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 27.

THIS LED TO A REDUCTION IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MECHANICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO COACHES, AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION.

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE PROBABILITY OF THE CHAIN OF EVENTS WHICH LED TO THE TRAIN SEPARATION WAS EXTREMELY LOW.

"CONSEQUENTLY, THE PROBABILITY OF A SECOND INCIDENT

IS INSIGNIFICANTLY LOW,' H HE CONCLUDED.

OCCURRING

/MR COOKSEY

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