XN000022-1994-02-02 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1994

THE AIRPORT GENERAL MANAGER IS HELPED IN THE DAY то DAY MANAGEMENT OF SERVICES BY THE AIRPORT FACILITATION COMMITTEE WHICH INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM AIRLINES, COMMERCIAL ORGANISATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES IN THE TERMINAL, HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION, CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS.

THE

AND

THE COMMITTEE ACTS PROMPTLY ON SUGGESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS IMPROVEMENTS ΤΟ SERVICE STANDARDS AND FACILITIES ARE IMPLEMENTED, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, SHE SAID.

THE AVIATION ADVISORY BOARD, CHAIRED BY THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION AND COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE AVIATION AND TOURISM INDUSTRIES AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ALSO TAKES A CLOSE INTEREST IN THE FACILITIES AND STANDARDS OF SERVICE.

0

NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL WELCOMES DISABLED

* * *

THE NEW AIRPORT PASSENGER TERMINAL WILL BE USER-FRIENDLY TO THE DISABLED WHO WOULD FIND IT SIMPLE TO USE.

THE ACTING

SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ELIZABETH BOSHER, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY} THAT THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY (PAA) HAD TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE DESIGN OF THE TERMINAL OBJECTIVES OUTLINED IN THE 1992 GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION POLICIES AND SERVICES.

THE NEED TO COMPLY WITH RECOGNISED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES CONCERNING FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED IS ALSO CONSIDERED.

MRS BOSHER. IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG, SAID THE PAA'S POLICY HAD BEEN TO ESTABLISH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DISABLED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE STAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW AIRPORT.

ALL CATEGORIES OF DISABILITY ARE BEING CONSIDERED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, SHE SAID.

THESE INCLUDE PROVISION FOR THOSE WITH WALKING DIFFICULTIES, THE WHEELCHAIR-BOUND, THE BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED, AND THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.

MRS BOSHER ALSO OUTLINED A WIDE RANGE OF FEATURES WHICH HAD BEEN INCORPORATED IN THE DESIGN OF THE TERMINAL TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED.

MORE, THE PAA IS MAKING SIMILAR PROVISIONS FOR THE DISABLED IN THE DESIGN OF PUBLIC AREAS OUTSIDE THE TERMINAL, INCLUDING FOR ACCESS TO TRANSPORT FACILITIES TO AND FROM THE NEW

ARRANGEMENTS AIRPORT.

ΤΟ ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN PLANNING THE TERMINAL FACILITIES, THE PAA HAS IN RECENT MONTHS HELD A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH SEVERAL SOCIETIES REPRESENTING THE DISABLED IN HONG KONG.

/THESE SOCIETIES