Safety pledge: Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Frederick Ma briefs the media on the Ngong Ping 360 report, saying the system will not reopen until safety upgrades have been met.

The Mass Transit Railway Corporation will change its Ngong Ping 360 operator, Skyrail, in the wake of an expert panel report on the falling of a gondola on the cable car in June. The Government has also initiated legal action against a Skyrail official.

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Frederick Ma today said the report confirmed the cable car design is safe and the existing regulatory regime meets international practices. However, the Government has urged the MTRC, as owner of the system, to implement management, operation and maintenance upgrades.

He said the Government cannot discuss the case or release any information detailing the cause of the incident as it was now a legal matter and certain parts of the report have been withheld from publication.

New management

MTRC Chairman Dr Raymond Ch'ien said a subsidiary company will be formed to take up the management and operation of the system, adding that an agreement has been reached with the current operator Skyrail-ITM (Hong Kong) on the transfer of administration. The new company will be led by an international management team comprising MTR engineers and experienced cable-car professionals.

Dr Ch'ien said the corporation is committed to win back confidence in the Ngong Ping cable-car system and the aim is to try to reopen the system by year's-end.

Assistant Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services Chan Fan said all damaged and worn components have been repaired or replaced since the incident. He said, before reopening, the system should be tested and commissioned as if it were newly built, and a full examination of it should be conducted annually after that.

Safety priority

Mr Ma said safety is the Government's top priority, adding it will press the MTRC to ensure a safe and reliable cable-car service. The system must comply with the improvement measures before the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department permits it to reopen to the public.

He said the Government sympathises with Ngong Ping Village tenants affected by the system suspension, and has asked the MTRC to liaise with and assist them during this difficult period.