| Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13 |
Reply Serial No.
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CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO
INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION
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CEDB(CIT)050
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Question Serial No.
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1774
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Head :
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152 Government Secretariat:
Commerce and Economic
Development Bureau (Commerce,
Industry and Tourism Branch)
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Subhead (No. & title) :
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Programme :
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(6) Travel and Tourism
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Controlling Officer :
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Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
(Commerce, Industry and Tourism)
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Director of Bureau :
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Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
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Question :
Please provide the following information about Ngong Ping 360:
(a) the patronage of Ngong Ping 360 and number of visitors to Ngong Ping Village in 2011-12;
(b) the number of failure incidents of Ngong Ping 360, their causes and the expenditures incurred for post-incident remedial measures in the past three years; and
(c) the total expenditures on routine inspection and maintenance of Ngong Ping 360’s cable car system in the past three years.
Asked by : Hon. LEE Wai-king, Starry
Reply :
(a) In 2011, Ngong Ping 360 (including the cable car system and the Ngong Ping village) recorded a total number of 1.69 million guests.
(b)-(c) In accordance with the current notification mechanism, Ngong Ping 360 will inform the public through the electronic media if the cable car service is expected to be delayed or suspended for 30 minutes or more. Details of operation-related stoppages which required activation of the notification mechanism from 2009 to January 2012 are shown as follows :
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Date
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Suspension Period
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Reason
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2009
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12 May
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10:00 – 14:00 (4 hours)
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Ropes were overlapped, causing delay in the pre-operation preparation work.
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9 October
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11:40 – 12:00 (20 minutes)
(cable car stopped boarding during 11:10 to 11:40, while the ropeway continued to operate to alight passengers)
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Repaired an overheated pulley assembly at the Airport Island Angle Station.
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2011
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2 January
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9:00 – 9:59 (59 minutes)
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Delay in the pre-operational works. Adjustment of the transmission belt tension was required at the Ngong Ping Terminal.
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8 December
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16:35 – 16:51 (16 minutes)
Cable car operation was stopped to carry out maintenance and testing.
16:51 – 17:21 (30 minutes)
Passenger boarding was stopped. The ropeway still continued to operate until all passengers were alighted.
Cable car service resumed on the next day.
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Partial wear on the haul rope sheave lining in the Ngong Ping Terminal.
After examination, deformation of the surface of the lining in contact with the sheave was found. The acceptance criteria of lining thickness recommended by the manufacturer appeared not sufficient to prevent failure of the lining, and has affected timely replacement.
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18 December
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14:22 – 15:16 (54 minutes)
Passenger boarding was stopped. The ropeway still continued to operate until all passengers were alighted.
15:16 – 16:15 (59 minutes)
Cable car operation was stopped to carry out maintenance and testing.
16:15
Cable car service resumed normal.
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Fault occurred at a small scale roller bearing of the cabin transportation system in Tung Chung Terminal.
After examination, damage was found on a bearing of the roller. Possible causes could be inherent bearing defects or unsatisfactory installation.
The roller bearing was replaced overnight as relatively simple procedures and equipment were involved in the replacement work.
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22 December
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16:40 – 16:53 (13 minutes)
Cable car operation was stopped to carry out checking and maintenance.
16:53 – 18:07 (1 hour 14 minutes)
Passenger boarding was stopped. The ropeway still continued to operate until all passengers were alighted.
Cable car service resumed on the next day.
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Fault occurred at the cabin spacer of the Ngong Ping Terminal.
After examination, metal particles were found at the planetary gearbox and lubricant oil level was found low.
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2012
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25 January
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14:49 – 15:22 (33 minutes)
Cable car operation was stopped to carry out checking and maintenance.
15:22 – 16:53
(1 hour 31 minutes)
Passenger boarding was stopped. The ropeway still continued to operate until all passengers were alighted.
That night, after initial assessment of the maintenance time needed, cable car service was suspended for 10 days to conduct investigation and replacement works*.
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Noise originated from the bearing of a haul rope sheave at the Airport Island Angle Station, requiring a detailed checking and repair.
After examination, wear was found on the surface of the haul rope sheave bearing.
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* Ngong Ping 360 announced on 3 February the extension of the suspension of cable car service for two months in order to replace the bearings of all seven sets of bullwheels of the ropeway system and advance the annual examination for 2012.
The Ngong Ping 360 Limited is a subsidiary of the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL). In accordance with the Tung Chung Cable Car Ordinance, the MTRCL has been granted a franchise to operate, manage and maintain the cable car system, and to determine and collect fares during the franchise period. The operating expenditure of the cable car system (including repair and maintenance) is the commercial decision of the Board of Ngong Ping 360 Limited. The Government does not subvent the operation of Ngong Ping 360, and does not have any information in this regard.
The Ngong Ping 360 Limited places great emphasis on the repair and maintenance of the cable car system. Its management team comprises technical personnel with engineering background. In addition, its 70-member maintenance team operates round the clock to ensure the cable car system operates normally. The company will also increase the manpower for maintenance and repair as and when required.
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Signature
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Name in block letters
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Andrew HY WONG
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Post Title
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Permanent Secretary for Commerce and
Economic Development
(Commerce, Industry and Tourism)
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Date
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29.2.2012
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