EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING ROAD TUNNEL REGULATIONS

EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING ROAD TUNNEL REGULATIONS

EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING ROAD TUNNEL
REGULATIONS

(Cap. 215, section 43)

[5 May 1989]

L.N. 128 of 1989

1. Citation

These regulations may be cited as the Eastern Harbour Crossing Road

Tunnel Regulations.

2. Interpretation

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires

'control centre' means the control centre referred to in regulation 3(1)(b);

'lane' means a traffic lane in the road tunnel area;

'road marking' means a line, word, mark or device placed on, or set into, the surface
of a road for conveying to persons using the road any warning, information,
requirement, restriction, prohibition or direction;

'traffic sign' means a sign, object or device for conveying to persons using a road
any warning, information, direction, requirement, restriction or prohibition;

'Tunnel Manager' means the person appointed by the Road Company to control
and manage the road tunnel area;

'tunnel officer' means the Tunnel Manager and any other person employed by the
Road Company for the control, restriction and safety of traffic in the road
tunnel area.

3. Road Company's obligations

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

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

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

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

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





(iii)be manned at all times by persons fully trained in the use of
equipment provided for the purposes mentioned in
subparagraph (ii);

(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 Royal Hong Kong
Police Force; and

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

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

(e)provide service vehicles suitable for dealing with vehicular
breakdowns, accidents and obstruction in the lanes;

ensure that-

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

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

(g)ensure that the concentration of carbon monoxide gas in the road
tunnel does not at any time exceed 125 parts per million;

(h)provide equipment for the continuous measurement and recording of
the concentration of carbon monoxide gas in the road tunnel and for
visual and audible alarm warnings to be given in the control centre if
the concentration exceeds the level specified in paragraph (g);

(i)provide equipment for the continuous measurement and recording of
petrol vapour in the sump at the lowest point of the road tunnel;

(j)ensure that the equipment referred to in paragraph (i) will give visual
and audible alarm warnings if the concentration of petrol vapour
exceeds 0.35%;

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

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

(m)ensure that the illumination referred to in paragraph (1) is varied
having regard to the volume of traffic using the tunnel and the light
conditions outside the road tunnel;





(n)maintain in efficient working order an emergency power supply for
use in the road tunnel by the Government Fire Services Department;

(o)provide for 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 facilities of the road tunnel area;

(p)in addition to the requirement mentioned in paragraph (o), 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 such emergency systems and equipment in the
road tunnel area as may from time to time be specified in writing by
the Commissioner;

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

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

(s) provide and maintain adequate first aid equipment.

(2) The Road Company shall, to the satisfaction of the Director of Fire Services,
provide adequate and efficient fire service installations and equipment in the road
tunnel area.

(3) The Road Company shall ensure that any diversion or interruption of traffic
within the road tunnel area that may affect the flow of traffic outside that area is
reported without delay to a regional command and control centre of the Royal Hong
Kong Police Force and to an officer designated by the Commissioner.

4. Traffic signs and road markings

(1) In order to comply with regulation 3(1)(a), the Road Company may cause or
permit to be erected or placed in the road tunnel area

(a)any traffic sign or road marking of the size, colour and type
prescribed in by-laws made under the Ordinance;

(b)any warning, informatory or supplementary plate traffic sign or road
marking of the size, colour and type shown in Schedules 1 and 2 to
the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg.);

(c)if the Commissioner approves each such erection or placing, any
regulatory traffic sign or road marking of the size, colour and type
shown in Schedules 1, 2 and 3 to the Road Traffic (Traffic Control)
Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg.); and

(d)any traffic sign or road marking as it may think appropriate for the
giving of advice and information to persons using the road tunnel.





(2) The Road Company may by the erection or placing of an appropriate
sign cancel, alter or temporarily suspend the operation of any traffic sign or
road marking erected or placed under subregulation (1)(a), (b) or (d).
(3) The Road Company shall, if directed to do so by the Commissioner,
remove any traffic sign or road marking erected or placed in the road tunnel
area under subregulation (1)(b) or (d).

5. Uniforms and identification

A tunnel officer on duty shall-
(a) except in the case of the Tunnel Manager, wear a uniform of a
design approved by the Commissioner of Police;
(b) carry such means of identity as may be approved by the
Commissioner;
(e) promptly produce to any person who on reasonable grounds
requests him to do so his means of identity and evidence of
appointment.

6. Tunnel officers' power to stop vehicles

(1) A tunnel officer may-
(a) for the purpose of preventing or detecting any contravention of
by-laws made under the Ordinance; or
(b) if he has reasonable grounds for believing that the driver of a
vehicle-
(i) is likely to contravene or has contravened any of those
by-laws; or
(ii) has been involved in an accident in the road tunnel area,
exercise, within the road tunnel area, any of the powers specified in sub-
regulation (2).
(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), a tunnel officer may-
(a) order or signal the driver of a vehicle-
(i) to stop the vehicle immediately; or
(ii)to proceed to a designated place in the road tunnel area and
to stop there;
(b) require the driver of a vehicle-
(i) to produce his driving licence;
(ii) to give his address;
(iii) to give the name and address of the owner of the vehicle.

7. Tunnel officers' power to search vehicles

A tunnel officer may-





(a)for the purpose of preventing or detecting a contravention of any
by-law made under the Ordinance that prohibits or restricts the
use of the road tunnel area by vehicles of certain descriptions; or
(b)if he has reasonable grounds for believing that the driver of a
vehicle is likely to contravene or has contravened any such
by-law,
within the road tunnel area, enter, examine and search a vehicle and anything in
or on the vehicle.

8. Offences and penalties

Any person who fails to comply with any order, signal or requirement
given or made by a tunnel officer under regulation 6, or who obstructs or
interferes with a tunnel officer acting under regulation 7, commits an offence
and is liable to a fine of 55,000 and to imprisonment for 6 months.

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