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The Gas Authority has prohibited the joint conveyance of LPG and kerosene through amendments to the permit conditions for LPG cylinder wagons. These amendments have been phased in so as to allow the industry a reasonable time to comply with the new arrangements, with The new full implementation achieved in November 1993. arrangements, now strictly enforced, have reduced the possibility of a similar incident involving both commodities.
The Gas Authority has stepped up enforcement against contraventions of the permit conditions for LPG cylinder wagons, which stipulate that any vehicle laden with LPG cylinders may only be parked unattended outdoors in a non-congested area and at least 15 metres away from any building of multiple occupancy. Since the incident at Tuen Mun, the Gas Authority has taken out 78 prosecutions against the owners of illegally parked LPG cylinder wagons. Fines imposed ranged from $500 to $5,000.
For the longer term, the Gas Authority is identifying suitable sites for the overnight parking of LPG cylinder wagons. Potentially suitable sites are being assessed in consultation with the LPG suppliers and the relevant District Boards. The first such parking area will be brought into operation in Tuen Mun this month. Once the facility is in operation, the Gas Authority will amend the LPG cylinder wagon permit conditions so as to prohibit overnight parking of the vehicles elsewhere in the district.
The Gas Authority estimates that seven more such sites will commence operation in other districts over the next 18 months. The long term objective is to prohibit overnight parking of vehicles loaded with LPG cylinders in urban areas.
End/Wednesday, March 1, 1995
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