XN000022-1994-11-28 — Page 2

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1994

1

RESUMPTION OF GAS SUPPLIES IN NT

THE DISRUPTION

OF GAS

GAS

IN

ΤΟ ANSWER

PRESS QUESTIONS ABOUT SUPPLIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ON SUNDAY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT IT WAS SATISFIED THAT THE HONG KONG AND CHINA COMPANY WAS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO RESTORE SUPPLIES AS AS POSSIBLE.

QUICKLY

"IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT CONTRARY TO EARLIER EXPECTATIONS, AND A FURTHER 40,000 HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE RECONNECTED BY 6 AM TOMORROW, 95 PER CENT OF ALL AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS WILL HAVE THEIR SUPPLY RESTORED BY 6 AM ON WEDNESDAY HE SAID.

TO

·

SAID THE WITH REGARD

SPOKESMAN TO PREVENTIVE MEASURES, THE

PROTECT GAS IN FACT PREPARING LEGISLATION TO GOVERNMENT WAS

MAINS

DURING EXCAVATION WORK.

AT

THERE IS ONLY VOLUNTARY LIAISON BETWEEN PRESENT, COMPANY AND CONTRACTORS OVER THE LOCATION OF PIPES AND THERE PROVISIONS IN

THE CURRENT GAS LEGISLATION FOR THE GAS PROSECUTE CONTRACTORS.

THE

GAS ARE NO

ΤΟ

AUTHORITY

CURRENTLY

PREPARING OFFENCE

"THIS TS UNSATISFACTORY AND WE ARE AMENDMENTS TO THE GAS SAFETY ORDINANCE WHICH WOULD MAKE IT AN FOR A CONTRACTOR NOT TO TAKE REASONABLE MEASURES TO CHECK THE LOCATION OF GAS MAINS AND TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THEM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IN

ΤΟ THE

"UNDER A BILL TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FEBRUARY 1995, CONTRACTORS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO FINES AND IMPRISONMENT,

TO MAKE GOOD THE DAMAGE, FOR CARELESS EXCAVATION LEADING DAMAGE OF GAS MAINS, HE ADDED.

AN

"

OF

IT IS LEGISLATION

INVESTIGATION IS BEING CONDUCTED INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES YESTERDAY'S INCIDENT AND APPROPRIATE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IF FOUND THAT THE CONTRACTOR

EXISTING CONTRAVENED ANY RELATING TO THE EXCAVATION WORK BEING CARRIED OUT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

0

TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE TO VIEWS ON GMB SEATING CAPACITY

WELCOMED THE MAXICAB MEASURES

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (MONDAY} SUPPORT GIVEN BY THE HONG KONG-KOWLOON-NEW TERRITORIES PUBLIC OPERATORS' GENERAL ASSOCIATION TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND CURB PRIVATE VEHICLE GROWTH,

ON

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES ON THE DEPARTMENT'S POSITION THE ASSOCIATION'S VIEWS ON SEATING CAPACITY OF GREEN MINIBUSES (GMB), THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE QUESTION OF INCREASING THE SEATING CAPACITY GMB WAS DISCUSSED BY THE LEGCO TRANSPORT PANEL IN JULY THIS YEAR.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO MADE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPOSAL,

OF

HE

SAID.

"IN SHORT,

E