XN000022-1997-03-12 — Page 21

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Guidelines for floats

Following is a question by the Hon Wong Wai-yin and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Gordon Siu, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

With regard to the float parade accident on 7 February this year, will the Government inform this Council of the measures which will be adopted by the Transport Department to strengthen the monitoring of the safety of parade floats, including the specifications of the decorative designs, so as to ensure that accidents do not occur?

Reply:

Mr President,

Transport Department, in consultation with Fire Services Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the Police, is drawing up guidelines for floats for compliance by the organisers and participants in parade floats. The guidelines will set out, among others, requirements on the vehicles for use as float vehicles, decoration and fitting out of floats, types of decoration materials to be used, fitting of auxiliary generators and power supply cables, installation of fire extinguisher, ventilation of the float vehicles and rules for drivers and passengers. All floats will be subject to inspection before taking part in a parade. Transport Department will consult event organisers on the guidelines before they are finalised for promulgation at the end of this month.

End