XN000022-1993-07-07 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1993

"THE OFFICER HAS TO BE OF GOOD CONDUCT AND PERFORMANCE AND ALSO PHYSICALLY FIT," SHE SAID.

"HE MAY BE FURTHER EMPLOYED BEYOND THE AGE OF 60 IF THERE IS A STRONG NEED FOR HIS SERVICE TO BE RETAINED."

HOWEVER, THIS WILL BE BASED ON AN ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE

FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

ΤΟ

*

THERE ARE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND SUCCESSION PROBLEMS;

THERE ARE SPECIALIST AND/OR OPERATIONAL GROUNDS FOR RETAINING THE OFFICER;

THE EXTENSION OF SERVICE IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE IN THE RANK; AND

THE FURTHER EMPLOYMENT WILL NOT CAUSE A PROMOTION BLOCKAGE.

MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THESE CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES APPLIED BOTH OVERSEAS AND LOCAL OFFICERS AND THAT DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON SUCH FURTHER EMPLOYMENT MUST BE PUT TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR ADVICE BEFORE APPROVAL.

THE

TO

60

"IN THE CASE OF AN OVERSEAS AGREEMENT OFFICER, IN ADDITION CRITERIA OUTLINED ABOVE, FURTHER EMPLOYMENT BEYOND THE AGE OF IS CONSIDERED ONLY WHERE NO SUITABLE LOCAL REPLACEMENT IS AVAILABLE," SHE ADDED.

36 BUS FIRES IN PAST THREE YEARS

* * * * *

THERE WERE 36 CASES OF BUSES CATCHING FIRE WHILE CARRYING PASSENGERS BETWEEN 1990 AND 1992, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR K Y YEUNG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE SAID ACCORDING TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THESE FIRES WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE RESULTED FROM A VARIETY OF CAUSES INCLUDING COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE EXTERNAL WALLS OF HOT ENGINE AND/OR EXHAUST PIPE, ELECTRICAL SHORT-CIRCUITING AND DISCARDED LIGHTED SMOKING MATERIALS.

THE

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR YEUNG NOTED THAT BUS CHASSIS WERE NORMALLY DESIGNED AND FITTED WITH FIRE PREVENTION FEATURES, SUCH AS SHIELDS TO PREVENT GREASE BEING THROWN ONTO HOT EXHAUST PIPES AND INSULATION OF ELECTRIC WIRING SYSTEMS.

"THESE FITTINGS AND EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS ALL OTHER PARTS OF A BUS ARE SUBJECTED TO VIGOROUS ANNUAL INSPECTIONS BY THE VEHICLE EXAMINERS OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT BEFORE THEIR LICENCES ARE RENEWED UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE AND LEGISLATION,

ITS SUBSIDIARY

"IN ADDITION,