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Following is a question by the Hon Law Chi-kwong and a reply by the acting Secretary for Economic Services, Ms Maria Kwan, in the Legislative Council today (June 14):
Question :
Will the Government inform this Council whether:
(a) it has assessed the respective chances of explosion of vehicles fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG vehicles) on fire themselves or caused by the spreading of fire from other vehicles inside various vehicle tunnel tubes;
(b) it has assessed if the means of escape inside various vehicle tunnels in Hong Kong are sufficient to cope with situations in which LPG vehicles are on fire inside the tunnel tubes; if they are assessed as sufficient, of the relevant details; if not, whether the relevant authorities have improvement plans; and
(c) the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) have planned to provide special training for all tunnel company staff and drivers of LPG vehicles to deal with incidents involving LPG vehicles inside the tunnel tubes; if they have, of the details?
Reply:
President,
(a) The EMSD commissioned a Quantitative Risk Assessment Study in 1997 in relation to the introduction of LPG vehicles into Hong Kong. According to the Consultant's assessment, with a fleet of 18 000 taxis in the territory, the combined risk of explosion involving a LPG vehicle under the circumstances described is 1/70 000 per year. The Consultant also pointed out that there were over 4 million LPG vehicles operating in over 30 countries in the world, and there had been few road accidents involving the fuel system of LPG vehicles. Only four such accidents had occurred over the years and none of them happened inside a tunnel. They also only involved converted LPG vehicles. LPG vehicles are so designed that there is a number of safeguards to prevent accidental leakage of LPG, including a fuel cylinder with a high safety factor, valves for controlling excess flow and emergency cut off of gas supply. In case a LPG vehicle inside a tunnel is on fire or affected by fire spreading from other vehicles, its fuel cylinder and safety relief valve will serve to discharge excess pressure to prevent an explosion. In Hong Kong, all registered LPG vehicles must be original equipment manufacturer LPG vehicles (i.e. without conversion) and they must meet stringent safety and performance standards before they are approved by the Transport Department and the EMSD. Moreover, vehicular traffic inside tunnels in Hong Kong is subject to a stringent control system including prohibition on overtaking or changing lane/straddling two lanes and there are also restrictions on speed limits. All these measures also serve to reduce the chances of accidents.
(b) Each vehicular tunnel in Hong Kong is provided with adequate escape facilities in case of fire. All tunnels have a mechanical smoke extraction system, which can draw out the heavy smoke or have it discharged in a fixed direction. Each tunnel is also provided with emergency lighting which ensures adequate illumination inside the tunnel. In the event of fire, these facilities can facilitate tunnel users leaving the scene of the incident as quickly as possible via the entrance and exit at both ends of the tunnel. In case of a twin-tube tunnel, under the instruction of tunnel staff/firemen, tunnel users can proceed to the unaffected tube via the pedestrian cross-over facilities. Although the design of the Lion Rock Tunnel does not contain such facilities, the tunnel is equipped with a special drencher system that can segregate the fire zone to facilitate escape and rescue. At present, LPG vehicles in Hong Kong are restricted to taxis and public light buses, the risk level of which is more or less the same as their diesel and petrol counterparts. It is therefore not necessary to have additional escape facilities arising from the introduction of LPG vehicles.
(c) The EMSD, together with the FSD and the Transport Department, held joint briefings with tunnel company staff in 1997, 1999 and 2000 on LPG vehicles and procedures to tackle emergencies in tunnels. The briefings covered the construction of LPG vehicles, safety equipment, characteristics of LPG, contingency measures, evacuation procedures and co-ordination with the FSD. The FSD and the EMSD have also drawn up guidelines on handling emergencies involving LPG vehicles for the personnel concerned including the tunnel company staff. In future, the EMSD, in conjunction with the FSD, will continue to hold relevant safety talks. As for the drivers of LPG vehicles, the EMSD has published publicity leaflets explaining the safe use of LPG vehicles and distributed them to taxi drivers via taxi associations. These leaflets will also be sent to drivers of LPG public light buses. The LPG vehicles suppliers had likewise arranged briefings for the drivers before the LPG vehicles were put on the road.
End/Wednesday, June 14, 2000
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