Effective system in place to ensure lift safety
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     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has been carrying out the regulatory role under the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) Ordinance (Cap 327) ("the Ordinance") in ensuring lift safety, and will continue to monitor the performance of the lift contractors to ensure that they will provide up-to-standard service.

     Responding to media enquiries today (November 5), a spokesman for EMSD said, "Under the Ordinance, only competent Registered Lift Contractors can carry out lift works including lift maintenance service to the required safety standards according to a Code of Practice, stipulating technical requirements in line with international standards."

     "The EMSD has been monitoring the operation of the existing regulatory system.  So far, there has been no evidence of any declined trend of lift safety. Nevertheless, the Department will fully investigate into the recent lift incident at Fu Shin Estate.

     "While EMSD believes that the incident is a very rare and isolated one, the Department will carefully examine the findings of the investigation and consider whether there is room for further improvement in the existing regulatory regime,"  he said.



Ends/Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:16

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