XN000022-1994-08-17 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1994

INTERIM REPORT ON COLLAPSE OF BASKETBALL STAND RELEASED

* * * * *

OF THE SINGLE-POST BASKETBALL STAND AT WO THE COLLAPSE PLAYGROUND IN FANLING WAS PARTLY DUE TO METAL FATIGUE AND PARTLY TO STRESS CONCENTRATION ON THE POST.

HING DUE

THIS IS REVEALED IN AN INTERIM INVESTIGATION REPORT BY DR CHUNG

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND MATERIAL CHI-YUEN OF THE

SCIENCE, CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG.

THE

SERVICES

DR CHUNG WAS COMMISSIONED TO CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION BY ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE REGIONAL DEPARTMENT.

DUE

HE SAID IN HIS REPORT THAT THE METAL FATIGUE WAS POSSIBLY

BASKETBALL WAS OFTEN MISUSE OF THE STAND BECAUSE THE IMPACT OF A NORMALLY TOO LIGHT FOR FATIGUE FAILURE.

TO

WITH THE

INNER

THE FATIGUE CRACK AT THE SECTION RIGHT BELOW

CONCENTRATION TUBE STRENGTHENING, THE FINAL MISUSE RESULTED IN STRESS AT THAT SECTION, HE ADDED.

DR

CHUNG IS

CARRYING OUT FURTHER

INVESTIGATIONS

BEFORE

HE

COMPLETES HIS FINAL REPORT.

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 29 THIS YEAR AND A SCHOOL BOY WAS

INJURED.

IMMEDIATELY

SINGLE-

AREA

AFTER THE INCIDENT, ALL 33 COURTS WITH 65 POST BASKETBALL STANDS ON 18 PLAYGROUNDS IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WERE CLOSED FOR INSPECTION.

BOTH LOADING DEPARTMENT

OF THEM, 25 COURTS WITH 49 STANDS THAT HAVE MET AND MATERIAL TESTS CONDUCTED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES HAVE ALREADY BEEN REOPENED FOR PUBLIC USE ON 13 PLAYGROUNDS.

AS

THE REMAINING FIGHT COURTS WITH 16 STANDS THAT DID NOT MEET THE

BE REOPENED AS SOON TEST REQUIREMENTS WILL

ARE THEIR STANDS

REPLACED.

"

DEPARTMENT

"TO AVOID MISUSE OF THE STANDS, NOTICES HAVE BEEN PUT UP AT ALL BASKETBALL COURTS TO ADVISE USERS, A REGIONAL SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID.

EQUIPMENT AND REGIONAL

CONDUCTING A

TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL 700 PIECES OF PLAY 160 SETS OF MULTI-PLAY EQUIPMENT ON 230 PLAYGROUNDS IN THE COUNCIL AREA, THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS ALSO SERIES OF INSPECTION WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

"IT IS EXPECTED THE INSPECTION WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END THIS MONTH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

OF

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