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In response to media enquiries on the resumption of Ngong Ping 360 cable car service today (April 12), an Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) spokesman said:
"The EMSD deployed professional staff to monitor closely on site the checking of all belt/pulley assemblies performed by the operating company last night. After the cable car was put into trial run this morning, all the assemblies were further checked by our professional staff. The cable car was allowed to resume operation at 10 am today as we were satisfied that the assemblies were in proper working conditions after the trial run.
Investigations show that the cause of yesterday's incident was the dislodgement of a driving belt from the normal position at one of the non-linear belt/pulley assemblies at the Nei Lak Shan Angle Station, resulting in incorrect cabin separation within the station. The incorrect cabin separation activated an alarm and stopped the ropeway.
At our request, the operating company has started to implement the following measures to enhance the operating reliability :
- installing an additional tensioner to all similar belt/pulley assemblies to maintain the belt tension; and
- enhancing the regular checking of similar non-linear belt/pulley
assemblies in the cable car system.
The EMSD will continue to closely monitor the operation and maintenance of the cable car system, and measures to enhance the operating reliability."
Ends/Saturday, April 12, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:10
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