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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I say that as far as the Select Committee on Local Administration is concerned that is a recommendation which has been made: that the Ward demarcations should coincide with the Police as well as the City District Office boundaries. That recommendation was a result of our deliberation at the last meeting at which I believe Mr. BERNACCHI was present. May I, Sir, have your permission to congratulate, on behalf of the Appointed members, Mr. Henry Hu for the splendid performance in his Ward as recorded in the June publicity Report. (Applause).
MR. HU:-I should thank Mr. SALES very much indeed.
(1) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question:
As I have had occasion to hear remarks that some of the U.S.D. drivers are reckless and often exceed the speed limit in congested areas as well as parking their vehicles in a manner which causes obstruction, may I ask you, Sir, how many accidents have there been since the beginning of this year involving the Department's vehicles?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
This question concerns vehicles of the Urban Services Department and the number of accidents involving them. From January 1st to the end of May, this year, 104 Urban Services Department vehicles were involved in accidents; in 21 of which U.S.D. drivers were considered at fault. Police action was taken in one case.
These figures must be measured against the fact that the department has a fleet of 590 vehicles. Allowing for 15% off the road because of maintenance, breakdowns, etc., there is an average of about 500 U.S.D. vehicles on the road every day. During the 5 months in question, over 2.1 million miles were travelled. This represents a rate of 1 accident to every 20,339 miles.
MR. LOBO:-Mr. Chairman, we have an average of 500 vehicles. One-fifth of the vehicles are bound, according to statistics, to be involved in an accident and approximately 20 a month or almost one per working day. I still think that this is a very high rate and I wish some measure would be taken to reduce this rate of accident.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, how do these figures compare with figures from other big departments like the Public Works Department, the Police, etc.?
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CHAIRMAN: ---The accident figures compare very favourably with comparable departments with the same number of vehicles. I should perhaps add that in 18 of these accidents, I'm sorry, with the exception of 18 accidents which involved personnel, the remainder were "vehicle to vehicle", and of those which involved persons, 8 resulted from the vehicle having to brake violently to avoid children running across public highways, causing the vehicle to swerve and skid.
MR. SALES: -Sir, in the connotation of the term "vehicle", do you include hand-carts used by members of the Urban Services Department for sweeping the streets and collecting refuse?
CHAIRMAN:-No, Mr. SALES.
MR. SALES: ---Well, would you then give your attention, Sir, to their rate of accident as a result of the awkward way in which these hand-carts are put on our main roads, of which I have been a witness many a time?
CHAIRMAN: On main roads is that?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, could you give this Council the categorical assurance that no instructions have been issued to your drivers to bear down on Urban Councillors whenever they come across them on main roads? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: ---You have my unqualified assurance Mr. SALES.
MR. SALES:-Thank you.
DR. BELL:—Mr. Chairman, you said in your answer that a lot of the accidents were due to braking violently in order to avoid children. Is there a speed limit to which these heavily laden vehicles have to adhere? Would the braking perhaps be less violent if they were within that speed limit which might perhaps be 15 to 20 miles an hour instead of 30 miles an hour, as many of them travel in a built-up area?
CHAIRMAN: -I'll need notice of that question Dr. BELL.
(2) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question:
Will the Chairman please inform me if all the U.S.D. drivers are required to wear uniform while on duty?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
This question concerns uniforms for U.S.D. drivers.
All U.S.D. drivers are provided with a winter and a summer uniform, and are required to wear it whilst on duty.
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Page 80 of 243
Page 80 of 243
140
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I say that as far as the Select Committee on Local Administration is concerned that is a recom- mendation which has been made: that the Ward demarcations should coincide with the Police as well as the City District Office boundaries. That recommendation was a result of our deliberation at the last meet- ing at which I believe Mr. BERNACCHI was present. May I, Sir, have your permission to congratulate, on behalf of the Appointed members, Mr. Henry Hu for the splendid performance in his Ward as recorded in the June publicity Report. (Applause).
MR. HU:-I should thank Mr. SALES very much indeed.
(1) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question :·
As I have had occasion to hear remarks that some of the U.S.D. drivers are reckless and often exceed the speed limit in congested areas as well as parking their vehicles in a manner which causes obstruction, may I ask you, Sir, how many accidents have there been since the begin- ning of this year involving the Department's vehicles?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
This question concerns vehicles of the Urban Services Depart-
ment and the number of accidents involving them. From January 1st to the end of May, this year, 104 Urban Services Department vehicles were involved in accidents; in 21 of which U.S.D. drivers were considered at fault. Police action was taken in one case.
These figures must be measured against the fact that the de- partment has a fleet of 590 vehicles. Allowing for 15% off the road because of maintenance, breakdowns, etc., there is an average of about 500 U.S.D. vehicles on the road every day. During the 5 months in question, over 2.1 million miles were travelled. This represents a rate of 1 accident to every 20,339 miles.
MR. LOBO:-Mr. Chairman, we have an average of 500 vehicles. One-fifth of the vehicles are bound, according to statistics, to be in- volved in an accident and approximately 20 a month or almost one per working day. I still think that this is a very high rate and I wish some measure would be taken to reduce this rate of accident.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, how do these figures compare with figures from other big departments like the Public Works Depart- ment the Police, etc.?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
141
CHAIRMAN: ---The accident figures compare very favourably with comparable departments with the same number of vehicles. I should perhaps add that in 18 of these accidents, I'm sorry, with the exception of 18 accidents which involved personnel, the remainder were "vehicle to vehicle", and of those which involved persons, 8 resulted from the vehicle having to brake violently to avoid children running across public highways, causing the vehicle to swerve and skid.
MR. SALES: -Sir, in the connotation of the term "vehicle", do you include hand-carts used by members of the Urban Services Department for sweeping the streets and collecting refuse?
CHAIRMAN:-No, Mr. SALES.
MR. SALES: ---Well, would you then give your attention, Sir, to their rate of accident as a result of the awkward way in which these hand-carts are put on our main roads, of which I have been a witness many a time?
CHAIRMAN:On main roads is that?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, could you give this Council the cate- gorical assurance that no instructions have been issued to your drivers to bear down on Urban Councillors whenever they come across them on main roads? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:---You have my unqualified assurance Mr. SALES.
MR. SALES:-Thank you.
DR. BELL:—Mr. Chairman, you said in your answer that a lot of the accidents were due to braking violently in order to avoid children. Is there a speed limit to which these heavily laden vehicles have to adhere? Would the braking perhaps be less violent if they were within that speed limit which might perhaps be 15 to 20 miles an hour instead of 30 miles an hour, as many of them travel in a built-up area?
CHAIRMAN: -I'll need notice of that question Dr. BELL.
(2) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question:-
Will the Chairman please inform me if all the U.S.D. drivers
are required to wear uniform while on duty?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
This question concerns uniforms for U.S.D. drivers.
All U.S.D. drivers are provided with a winter and a summer uniform, and are required to wear it whilst on duty.
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