Hong Kong Regulations

WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING REGULATION - SECT 2

The Company's obligations

Caution: This is a past version. See the current version here.

(1) The Company shall, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner-

   (a)  erect and maintain adequate and efficient traffic signs and
        light signals, and place and maintain adequate and efficient road 
        markings, in the tunnel area;

   (b)  provide and maintain a control centre which shall-

        (i)    be situated at the northern entrance to the tunnel;

        (ii)   contain adequate equipment for the regulation, control,
               restriction and guidance of vehicles and persons using or
               employed in the tunnel area;

        (iii)  be manned at all times by an adequate number of persons trained
               in the use of equipment provided for the purposes mentioned in
               subparagraph (ii) and who are trained in emergency traffic
               arrangements;

   (c)  ensure that direct telecommunication links are available at all times
        between the control centre and-

        (i)    a regional command and control centre of the Hong Kong Police
               Force; and (L.N. 362 of 1997)

        (ii)   the Communication Centre of the Government Fire Services
               Department;

   (d)  maintain in efficient working order the emergency communication system
        provided in the tunnel for officers of the Government Fire Services
        Department to communicate with the Communication Centre of that
        department;

   (e)  maintain in efficient working order a radio re-broadcasting system for
        transmission of messages on traffic conditions and arrangements from
        the control centre to persons using the tunnel;

   (f)  provide an adequate number of trained personnel and service vehicles
        suitable for dealing with vehicular breakdowns, accidents and
        obstruction in the lanes;

   (g)  use service vehicles referred to in paragraph (f) of the type,
        specification and quantity specified in Appendix 8 of the project
        agreement; if service vehicles of any other type or specification or
        quantity are to be used, they should be submitted to the Commissioner
        for prior approval;

   (h)  ensure that-

   (i)  an adequate number of the service vehicles referred to in paragraph
        (f) is manned and maintained at all times in a state of readiness by
        an adequate number of trained personnel; and

        (ii)   a 2-way radio link between the vehicle and the control centre
               is available while any such vehicle is present in a lane;

        (i)    provide an adequate system of ventilation for the safety of
               persons using or employed in the tunnel area;

   (j)  provide equipment for the continuous measurement and recording of the
        concentration of carbon monoxide gas and nitrogen dioxide gas in the
        tunnel and for visual and audible alarm warnings to be given in the
        control centre if the concentration exceeds the level specified in
        subsection (2); where the equipment for measuring nitrogen dioxide gas
        is not commercially available in the market, equipment for the
        continuous measurement and recording of nitric oxide gas should be
        provided subject to it being replaced by equipment for measuring
        nitrogen dioxide gas immediately when it is available;

   (k)  provide equipment for the continuous measurement of petrol vapour in
        the sump at the lowest point of the tunnel;

   (l)  maintain the equipment referred to in paragraph (k) in good working
        order at all times and give visual and audible alarm warnings if the
        concentration of petrol vapour exceeds 0.35% by volume of air;

   (m)  provide fire extinguishing equipment in the sump at the lowest point
        of the tunnel, which equipment shall come into operation automatically
        if the concentration of petrol vapour exceeds 0.8% by volume of air;

   (n)  provide and maintain at all times adequate first aid equipment;

   (o)  provide adequate and efficient illumination within the tunnel area;

   (p)  arrange for variation of the illumination in the tunnel having regard
        to the volume of traffic using the tunnel and the light conditions
        outside the tunnel;

   (q)  maintain in efficient working order at all times an emergency power
        supply for use in the tunnel by the Government Fire Services
        Department;

   (r)  provide connection to 2 independent outside sources of electric power
        so that, if there is failure of one source, adequate electric power
        continues to be available for the full operation of the
        Constructed and  Maintained Facilities;

   (s)  in addition to the requirement mentioned in paragraph (r), maintain in
        a state of readiness at all times electricity generating apparatus
        which, in the event of failure of the outside sources of electric
        power, will be sufficient to operate the following emergency systems
        and equipment in the tunnel area for a minimum of 6 hours-

        (i)    fire services systems;

        (ii)   all loads backed up by uninterruptible power supply;

        (iii)  sump pumps;

        (iv)   emergency power points inside the tunnel;

        (v)    air-conditioning for computer room, control rooms and
               uninterruptible power supply rooms;

        (vi)   mechanical ventilation for battery rooms; and

        (vii)  emergency lights and essential power points for ancillary
               buildings of the Western Harbour Crossing;

   (t)  keep the tunnel area in a clean and orderly condition;

   (u)  provide access and facilitate the activities of officers or other
        servants of the Hong Kong Government and its agents whilst engaged in
        duty relating to the tunnel area.

(2) The Company shall ensure that-

   (a)  until 22 October 1997, the concentration of carbon monoxide gas in the
        tunnel does not during any 5 minute period exceed an average of 125
        parts per million;

   (b)  with effect from 23 October 1997, the concentration of carbon monoxide
        gas in the tunnel does not during any 5 minute period exceed an
        average of 100 parts per million;

   (c)  until 22 October 1997, the concentration of nitrogen dioxide gas in
        the tunnel does not during any 5 minute period exceed an average of
        1.5 parts per million;

   (d)  with effect from 23 October 1997, the concentration of nitrogen
        dioxide gas in the tunnel does not during any 5 minute period exceed
        an average of 1 part per million;

   (e)  where the equipment for measuring nitrogen dioxide gas is not
        commercially available in the market, the concentration of nitric
        oxide gas in the tunnel does not at any time exceed 15 parts per
        million; and

   (f)  the visibility standard in the tunnel does not exceed an extinction
        coefficient of 0.005 per metre. (L.N. 171 of 1997)

(3) The Company shall, to the satisfaction of the Director of Fire Services,
provide adequate and efficient fire service installations and equipment in the
tunnel area at all times.

(4) The Company shall, without delay, report any diversion or interruption of
traffic within the tunnel area that may affect the flow of traffic outside
that area to a regional command and control centre of the Hong Kong Police
Force and to an officer designated by the Commissioner. (L.N. 362 of 1997)