The Government responds to extended suspension of Ngong Ping 360 cable car
Friday, February 3, 2012
Government Press Release

In response to press enquiries on the extension of operation suspension of Ngong Ping 360, a government spokesman said today (February 3) that the Government paid serious attention to the operation of Ngong Ping 360, and it was essential to maintain a high safety standard and stability of service, as well as to take care of the needs of the customers.

The spokesman said: "After consulting the Tourism Commission and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), Ngong Ping 360 has decided to extend the suspension of the cable car operations for two months, replace the bearings on all the seven bullwheels in the system, and advance this year's annual inspection."

"During the suspension, the EMSD will closely monitor the maintenance work and the progress of examinations of Ngong Ping 360. The EMSD will only approve the resumption of the cable car service when the inspection result is satisfactory."

The spokesman said that the Tourism Commission and other related government departments, including the EMSD, the Transport Department, the Fire Services Department and the Hong Kong Police Force, were monitoring and assisting the management of Ngong Ping 360 Limited (the Company) to complete the review of contingency measures, the communication mechanism with the tourism trade and customers in the event of service disruptions, as well as the notification arrangements of service suspension before the resumption of the services.

"Ngong Ping 360 is conducting a comprehensive inspection on the incident on January 25 and replacement of the corresponding parts, and is improving the contingency measures and communication arrangements. These show that the Company gives top priority to service safety and reliability. The Company puts the best efforts to ensure system stability and a smooth operation of the cable car, in order to let customers feel at ease and to resume cable car operations as soon as possible," the spokesman added.

年票乘客要求按比例回水
2012年02月05日(日)
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【本報訊】昂坪纜車停駛事故引致市民怨聲載道，退票安排亦遭狠批。有購買年票的乘客不滿事發以來昂坪纜車公司只為購買了單次車票的乘客安排退票，對年票乘客隻字不提，要求纜車公司退回相等於兩個月票價的費用，否則會向消費者委員會投訴。纜車公司表示年票客可以選擇退票或將使用期延長至五月九日。

擬向消委會投訴

剛於龍年年初與太太花七百二十元購買了兩張一年任搭「龍年通」車票的陳先生稱，原打算於農曆新年後乘纜車到昂坪行山，未想到還未開始使用年票，纜車就宣布暫停服務兩個月。他怒斥：「發生事咁耐，完全冇提過我哋呢啲年票客戶，又冇任何公布點樣補償，完全唔當我哋係一回事！」

他昨日曾致電昂坪纜車公司投訴，對方始告知他可延長年票客人使用期或退票，但他認為纜車公司應退回相當於停駛兩個月票價的費用才合理，卻遭對方拒絕，「如果我出年再買年票，使用期咪重疊咗？我一年去成十幾次昂坪，其餘日子仲會用，所以唔希望退票。」他指購買年票的客人為數不少，影響甚廣，計劃向消委會投訴。

昂坪360發言人稱，就年票的安排，該公司會提供退票或延長使用期至明年五月九日的選擇，但無法按比例退回款項，並就事件向乘客致歉。

另外，有消息指出纜車的「啤令」出問題可能與過勞有關，指聲機電工程署在去年二、七及十一月，三次批准昂坪纜車共八十五小時額外運作時間以應付需要，工程師指該「加時」相對總運作時間只是很小比例，纜車公司維修保養良好，不會有大影響。

昂坪纜車今次停駛兩個月，預計損失超過二十萬人次乘客，涉及門票損失約三千萬元，但未計年票安排補償的損失。

LCQ16: Operation of Ngong Ping 360
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Government Press Release

Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, to a question by the Hon Lam Tai-fai in the Legislative Council today (February 8):

Question:

Since the commissioning of the cable car system of Ngong Ping 360 (Ngong Ping 360) on September 18, 2006 various kinds of incidents and suspension of services have occurred frequently, and the situation remains the same after its management has been changed. It has been reported that the cable car service was suspended again suddenly on the 25th of last month, causing 800 passengers to be stranded in the cabins for around two hours in extremely cold weather. There have been comments that the incident reflects the poor management of the Ngong Ping 360 Limited (the Company) which has seriously affected the reputation of Hong Kong's tourism industry. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) given that the Company has announced that it would conduct a detailed investigation into the incident which occurred on the 25th of last month, whether the authorities will release the investigation report; if they will, when they will do so; if not, of the reasons for that;

(b) whether it knows the dates, causes, duration of stoppages and the number of passengers being affected by the service suspension incidents which have occurred since the commissioning of Ngong Ping 360; and among such incidents, the number of those involving negligence and whether any person should be held responsible, as well as the respective numbers, types and results of the complaints received, together with a breakdown in table form;

(c) given that some of the passengers stranded in the aforesaid incident have openly complained to the media that the passengers were anxious as the Company failed to explain the cause of the incident to them through public announcement during the incident, whether the Government knows if the Company has any mechanism in place to ensure that it can maintain proper communication with the passengers during an incident and inform the passengers clearly and accurately of the relevant details as soon as possible; and whether the Company will review the mechanism for providing compensation to the stranded passengers (including offering multiple free rides on the cable cars again to local passengers and compensation for air tickets or hotel accommodation to overseas and mainland visitors); if so, the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(d) given that there have been complaints that the Company did not stop the sale of tickets immediately after the occurrence of the aforesaid incident, whether the Government knows the reason for that, and if the Company has put in place a set of contingency measures and notification arrangement for suspension of services in respect of unexpected incidents to facilitate comprehensive and proper coordination; if it has, the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(e) whether it knows if the Company has conducted regular reviews of and assessments on the daily operation and management of Ngong Ping 360, as well as on the technical support for the system, so as to ensure that its service standard is acceptable to the public; if it has, the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(f) whether it knows if the Company will provide any form of compensation for the suspension of services to all shop tenants in the Ngong Ping Village, including the provision of concession in the form of "rent-free day during service suspension"; and whether it will reduce the fares or provide different forms of concessions in view of the frequent occurrence of incidents, so as to attract more visitors and improve the business environment for the shop tenants in the Ngong Ping Village;

(g) whether it has assessed the impact of the various incidents on the image of Ngong Ping 360, the tourism industry of Hong Kong as well as the shop tenants in the Ngong Ping Village; and whether it has formulated any proposal to restore the image of Ngong Ping 360;

(h) whether it knows if the Board of the Company will introduce an "adjustment mechanism" to provide for both upward and downward adjustments for the remunerations of the management which are linked with the frequency of incidents (e.g. if incidents occur frequently, the entire management will be subject to pay reduction); if it will, the details concerned; if not, the reasons for that;

(i) whether it knows the various fare levels, rates of fare increase as well as the dates and justifications for fare increase since the commissioning of Ngong Ping 360, with a breakdown set out in table form; and whether the Government has assessed the reasons for the continuous lack of improvement in the service standard of Ngong Ping 360 despite the continuous increase in its fares; if it has, of such reasons;

(j) whether the MTR Corporation Limited or the authorities have assessed if the performance of the management of the Company is satisfactory, and under what situation in the operation of Ngong Ping 360 the authorities will consider changing the management;

(k) as quite a number of serious incidents which could endanger the safety of the passengers of Ngong Ping 360 (including the aforesaid incident and the cabin dislodgement incident in 2007, etc.) had occurred, whether the authorities have assessed if Ngong Ping 360 complies with the required safety standard; and how its safety standard compares with those of the cable cars in other places; and

(l) whether it knows if the Company has taken out insurance for the passengers; and the maximum amount of compensation to be paid by the Company or the relevant insurance companies in respect of casualties in incidents resulting in death or injury of the passengers of Ngong Ping 360?

Reply:

President,

The Government is very concerned about the recent spate of service suspension of the Ngong Ping 360 ropeway (Ngong Ping 360), particularly the latest incident of January 25 this year that led to visitors being stranded in car cabins for nearly two hours. The Government has asked the Ngong Ping 360 to maintain high safety standards, reliable services and give due regard for visitors' needs.

My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:

(a) On February 3, the Ngong Ping 360 Limited (the Company) announced the preliminary investigation results of the incident that occurred on January 25. Together with cable car system experts, the Company has investigated the faulty bullwheel bearing, and found irregular scratches on the inside surface of the bearing. While the scratches will not impact on ropeway safety, it may affect the smooth operation of the cable car system and cause service interruptions. In view of this, the Company decided to extend the service suspension period for two months in order to replace the bearings of all seven sets of bullwheels and advance the annual examination for 2012. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) will monitor closely the progress of repair works and tests of the Ngong Ping 360 during the suspension period. Approval for the resumption of cable car service will be contingent on satisfactory test results.

The Company has arranged the bearings manufacturer to further probe into the cause of the bearing erosion. An in-depth investigation into the breakdown of Ngong Ping 360 on January 25 by the EMSD is also underway. The results will be announced as soon as possible on conclusion of the investigation.

(b) Details of operation-related stoppages that occurred between the commencement of the Ngong Ping 360 in September 2006 and January 25, 2012 (when the above-mentioned incident occurred) are set out at Annex 1.

Of these incidents, the Skyrail-ITM (Hong Kong) Ltd (Skyrail-ITM), the then operating company, was held responsible for the incident that occurred on June 11, 2007 when a car cabin plunged to the ground. The Skyrail-ITM admitted that it had been negligent in performing the annual examination in breach of Section 23A of the Aerial Ropeways (Safety) Ordinance.

The number and types of complaints received since the Ngong Ping 360 resumed service on December 31, 2007 are set out at Annex 2. The Company has handled these complaints properly and replied to the complainants.

(c) The current emergency response mechanism of Ngong Ping 360 covers the arrangement for the dissemination of information to passengers. When the service halts for three minutes, the Company will broadcast the information to both passengers in cabins and guests waiting at Tung Chung and Ngong Ping termini.

At 2.49pm on January 25, after the cable car service had stopped for three minutes, a pre-recorded message about the stoppage was broadcast to both the passengers in cabins and the waiting guests. The Ngong Ping 360 also presented "appreciation packs" to affected guests at the Tung Chung Terminal as a token of apology for disrupting their itineraries. Each pack contained a written apology from the Company, a gift ticket for a round trip cable car ride and gift shop coupons. The Company also distributed bottled water and heat packs to the affected guests. The guests could also opt for a refund.

We considered the above arrangements not satisfactory and have instructed Ngong Ping 360 to make improvements, including substituting the broadcast of recorded messages with live broadcasts. The Company management has also been asked to disseminate news of incidents expeditiously to the media and visitors; and to ensure that notification to alert visitors heading for the cable car ride of suspension of service would not be delivered through print alone.

(d) According to the Company's report, its ticketing office had stopped selling tickets immediately when the ropeway service was suspended after the incident on January 25. But the transactions that were already underway when the ticketing system halted would continue to be completed with tickets issued. Cable car tickets are issued for time slots of 15 minutes. As such, when the ropeway service was suspended at 2.49pm on January 25, the service time slot affected was 3pm. Therefore, the "3pm" printed on the tickets referred to the ropeway service time slot instead of the time of ticket purchase.

The Company is reviewing ways to enhance internal communication and foster effective co-ordination in handling emergencies.

(e) The Company regularly reviews and assesses its daily operations, which cover the following:

(i) maintenance of daily records of events and activities by the Cable Car Operations Department and the Guest Services & Village Operations Department;
(ii) monthly performance review on cable car operations in respect of safety and service quality by the management committee, which comprises the Managing Director and department heads; and
(iii) bi-annual provision of technical support by ropeway experts.

In light of the incident on January 25, the Company is reviewing its current maintenance programme and actively exploring ways to increase the frequency for regular maintenance and improve the maintenance practices.

(f) The Company stated that it had maintained close liaison with its shop tenants and discussed with them various assistance measures and joint promotions to draw people to visit and spend at the Ngong Ping Village during the suspension of ropeway service. A visitor who spends $60 at the Ngong Ping Village will be entitled to a single journey MTR ticket for use on the same day.

(g) The thorough investigation and tests, complete replacement of all related parts, and improvements to contingency and communication arrangements implemented in the aftermath of the incident on January 25, all demonstrated the management company's commitment to maintaining service safety and reliability. It is doing all it can to ensure the reliability of the cable car system before the resumption of operation. We consider that the Ngong Ping 360 incident will not cause any long term impact on tourism.

(h) and (j) At present, our priority is to devote all energy to work on investigation, repair and tests to facilitate resumption of service of the ropeway system.

(i) The ticket prices of Ngong Ping 360 and rates of price increase since September 2006 are set out at Annex 3. The price adjustments are mainly due to rising operating costs caused by price increases for spare parts purchased from Europe over the past several years.

(k) According to the EMSD's assessment, the design of Ngong Ping ropeway conforms to international safety standards and practices. It is also in compliance with the safety standards as stipulated in the Code of Practice on the Design, Manufacture and Installation of Aerial Ropeways compiled by the EMSD. The design of the Ngong Ping 360 ropeway is safe.

(l) The Company has taken out insurance for its operations. The insurance policy covers passenger injuries and casualties caused by ropeway incidents. The insurance company concerned will make appropriate arrangements according to individual cases and circumstances.

Annex : http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201202/08/P201202080222.htm

昂坪纜車隱瞞故障
2012年02月09日(四)
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【記者黃慧琪報道】昂坪纜車年初三故障惹起公眾對纜車安全的關注，原來該宗事故發生前一個月已有纜車維修員發現滑輪啤令有問題並即時向纜車公司報告，但最終卻無人跟進；除啤令外，纜車主纜在最近一次年檢時亦發現有金屬線不尋常折斷，但纜車公司亦無向外公布。該公司的前線人員認為，昂坪纜車維修員人手編制混亂，人手不足，以致未能做好檢查工作，才是問題所在。

熟悉纜車公司內部運作的人士指出，現時纜車維修的工作大部分在夜更進行，但人手編制混亂，日更人手太多，相反夜間人手只得六、七個，以致出現人手不足又要追柯打數，影響質素。該名知情者又質疑機電工程署負責監管昂坪纜車是否有疏忽，已去信商務及經濟發展局及機電署反映問題。

無回應編制混亂

機電署回覆本報查詢時稱，不會評論及回應個別事件，但強調雖然昂坪纜車已呈報年初三事故的原因，機電署仍會派出專家到現場查找原因，並同時監察更換七個啤令的進展，完成調查後會有公布。

昂坪纜車則未有正面回應人手編更混亂的問題，只稱會視乎需要規劃人手及維修時間表。發言人又指翻查紀錄上月並無滑輪啤令有問題的呈報，至於投訴指年檢時發現有金屬線不尋常折斷，發言人證實曾發現纜索表面耗損，但已經即時作出維修。

年初三事故後纜車公司不更換傳動系統的啤令，是因為事故後曾全面檢查，認為無必要。

昂坪360否認早知壞啤令
2012年02月10日(五)
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【本報訊】昂坪纜車停駛最少兩個月「大修」，纜車公司指已展開更換七組滑輪啤令的工作，稍後亦會邀請客戶服務方面的專家協助，向前線員工提供培訓，加強對乘客的關顧。公司亦已完成纜車車廂真人發聲廣播的硬件裝置，將着手安排同事學習試用。

纜車公司董事總經理邵信明昨於電台節目指，由於起動吊重架需時，更換啤令的工作進行中。他昨否認滑輪啤令於事故前一個月已接獲出現異狀報告，但承認在人手編制上，夜間只有六、七人負責纜車維修，日間則有十數人，指稱部分工作需要在日間進行，公司會按工作需要調配。他又指公司正跟進前線同事面對纜車改道、事故發生時的乘客服務，稍後會邀請客戶服務專家幫手進行員工培訓，做好裝備。車廂真人發聲廣播亦已預備好，已着手進行播音培訓。

Cable cars stopped until safety assured
The Standard
Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Ngong Ping 360 will not get the green light to resume operations until the government is sure the service is safe.

The cable car attraction has been suspended since a bearing malfunction left passengers hanging in the air during a breakdown on January 25.

Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services Frank Chan Fan said yesterday the department will closely monitor the progress of repair work and tests on the service during the suspension period.

"Resumption of the cable car service will only be approved after it reaches a satisfactory level," Chan said.

Ngong Ping will replace all its seven bull wheel bearings after an investigation found irregular wear on one bearing, managing director Wilson Shao Shing- ming said.

"The scratches will not impact safety but may affect the smooth operation of the cable car system and cause service interruption," Shao said.

But lawmakers remain unconvinced by government assurances and have urged the operator to equip cabins with intercoms to inform passengers of any emergency.

Legislators Kam Nai-wai and Chan Kam-lam criticized the poor management of the attraction, saying it has seriously affected the reputation of the tourism industry.

機電署未批昂坪纜車復駛
2012年03月26日(一)
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【本報訊】停駛近兩個月的昂坪纜車，近日傳出今日重開的消息，惟纜車公司否認，指已完成滑輪啤令更換，年檢工作完成，並向機電工程署提交報告，但目前正等候機電署批准重開，發言人強調「未批根本唔敢訂重開日子！」

員工充當客人試車

昂坪纜車今年二月初宣布全面更換七組滑輪啤令及進行測試，並提早進行年檢，當時預計停駛兩個月，即最快下月初重開。但有消息指，纜車公司原計劃今日重開，但因應變演習未達標，港鐵高層惟有押後重開之期，而纜車公司本周亦會繼續演習，卻被質疑演習過程馬虎，有傳纜車公司更涉嫌「命令」員工當客人試車。

纜車公司回應指，已完成更換滑輪啤令工作，而年檢工作亦已完成，公司已向機電署提交報告，等候批准纜車重開，「三月二十六日一定唔得，未批我哋都唔敢訂日子！」發言人又強調，機電署未批准纜車重開，不會「用人」試車，公司期間只安排員工於站內進行應變訓練。

機電署表示，正在審閱有關纜車系統全面測試報告，包括負載測試、驅動器及煞車系統的檢驗及測試，並且跟進纜車公司落實改善措施的進度。在確定纜車系統運作正常之後，便會准許纜車系統恢復運作。此外，機電署的調查工作亦會盡快完成。

EMSD releases investigation report on Ngong Ping 360 cable car incident
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Government Press Release

Having completed a comprehensive investigation into the Ngong Ping 360 cable car incident on January 25, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) released its investigation report today (April 3). As the required improvement measures have been implemented satisfactorily, the EMSD has agreed that cable car operation may resume.

The EMSD completed the investigation with assistance from an independent expert. The report pointed out that the accident was due to the irregular spalling in the inner race of the bearing of bull wheel no. 4 of the cable car system and the uneven wearing out of the linings of that bull wheel. This caused vibration of the haul rope which in turn triggered the position sensor of the bull wheel to stop the cable car's operation. Examination of the lubricating grease collected from the bull wheel bearing revealed that water was present in relatively large quantities in the grease, which reduced the effectiveness of lubrication and caused spalling of the bearing.

To prevent recurrence of similar incidents, the report pointed out that Ngong Ping 360 Limited (Ngong Ping 360) shall implement the following improvement measures before re-opening the cable car:

‧ Replace all bull wheel bearings;
‧ Enhance the vibration monitoring system of all bull wheel bearings to capture data on an ongoing basis, and increase the frequency of examination of the collected data to once every two weeks;
‧ Conduct monthly grease analyses to monitor the moisture and metal contents of the lubricating grease and step up the re-greasing frequency according to the result;
‧ Store and handle lubricating grease properly to prevent ingress of moisture;
‧ Check and re-grease all bearings of the ropeway system;
‧ Tighten the procedure for inspection and replacement of the bull wheel linings;
‧ Conduct a comprehensive review of the maintenance regime of the cable car system and complete the action items identified;
‧ Enhance the emergency handling procedures, and provide staff with regular training to ensure their quick and appropriate response to unforeseen incidents; and
‧ Carry out an annual examination of the cable car system to ensure a satisfactory result.

The EMSD has conducted on-site examinations of all the improvement measures. It confirmed that the required measures have been implemented satisfactorily and can effectively prevent recurrence of similar incidents and enhance system reliability. Therefore, the EMSD has agreed that Ngong Ping 360 may resume cable car operation.

A spokesman of the EMSD said, "Ngong Ping 360 must learn from the incident. It has implemented all the improvement measures. Ngong Ping 360 must also step up efforts to manage the ropeway and ensure that the improved maintenance procedures of the ropeway, emergency handling procedures and reporting mechanisms are strictly and consistently followed. The EMSD will continue to closely monitor the operation and maintenance of the cable car system to ensure the safe operation of the ropeway."

The report can be downloaded from the EMSD's website: www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/e_download/pps/ar/English_version_Incident_2012-01-25.pdf .

CEDB notes Ngong Ping 360's announcement on resumption of cable car service
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Government Press Release

The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau has noted that Ngong Ping 360 would resume its cable car service on April 5. A spokesman for the Bureau said today (April 3) that after resumption of service, the Tourism Commission (TC), together with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and other relevant government departments, would continue to closely monitor the operation and services of the ropeway system, and ensure that the management company would implement the enhancement measures in various aspects on an ongoing basis, so as to maintain service reliability and stability.

"The management of Ngong Ping 360 showed inadequacies both in handling the incident of January 25 and monitoring its staff to discharge repair and maintenance works in a serious and diligent manner. Its management must learn the lessons and implement all the enhancement measures in a serious and sustainable manner," the spokesman added.

Over the past two months, the TC and the EMSD closely monitored Ngong Ping 360's works and provided assistance to it. In respect of the cable car operation and its repair and maintenance, Ngong Ping 360 had passed the EMSD's assessment and requirements, and obtained the EMSD's approval to resume cable car service.

As regards the enhancement of the contingency response mechanism and communication arrangements, the TC noted that Ngong Ping 360 had conducted a comprehensive review on its incident response mechanism, and had put in place a series of enhancement measures, including updating all the manuals on contingency response handling, deploying emergency buses flexibly to take passengers to leave Ngong Ping, making live announcements from the control centre to the cabins, providing additional emergency hotlines to handle passenger enquiries during incidents, and strengthening communication with the tourism industry, etc. It is believed that these measures would present an improvement over the previous situations.

On the relaunch of the cable car system, the spokesman said, "We actively encourage Ngong Ping 360 to collaborate with the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the tourism industry in launching its major marketing plans and concessions, with a view to restoring visitors' confidence."

By wise from a Hong Kong photography forum :

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昂坪纜車今日重開
2012年04月05日(四)
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【本報訊】昂坪纜車今日便會重新投入服務。纜車公司吸取了大年初三「半天吊」事故致停駛逾兩個月的教訓，將加強緊急應變處理；機電工程署也指年初的事故，若纜車公司管理層能及時決定截客和停駛，可減低影響，促纜車公司簡化決策程序。有市民不滿未有纜車公司管理層要為事件負責，建議港府及港鐵引入懲罰性扣薪制，加強監督。

吸取教訓簡化管理

機電署前日公布「半天吊」事故的調查報告，揭發纜車公司在維修和監管上連串疏忽，該署署理署長薛永恒昨於電台節目指出，纜車接連發生事故，反映纜車公司在管理及決策都需要改善，指若能簡化管理及決定的流程，及早決定截客和停駛，可減少事故對乘客的影響，纜車公司特別是管理層應吸取教訓，簡化程序。

旅遊事務專員容偉雄亦認同，最重要是纜車公司能在事故中吸取經驗，改善服務。他相信，只要纜車系統可靠及舒適，將可挽回市民的信心。

但有市民不滿纜車公司無人要為事故負責。電台一個烽煙節目中，聽眾伍先生直斥，連串事件反映纜車公司管理層嚴重出現問題，「佢哋唔使負責，又唔使扣人工，市民就要付出咁大代價！」他促請港府及港鐵考慮引入扣薪制作懲罰，「要佢哋扣人工，扣佢哋兩、三成就會改！」

至於今日重開的安排，纜車公司董事總經理邵信明表示，今早纜車的開放時間與以往沒分別，朝十晚六。他承認公司在營運上有改善空間，會加強前線職員與管理層處理突發事件的應變，纜車系統亦已加強乘客通報機制，車廂有實時廣播及會貼上緊急熱線電話及季節性應急設備，包括暖氈及水等。

昂坪360應變未改善
2012年04月18日(三)
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【本報訊】昂坪纜車的事故應變仍有待改進。纜車系統今年一月發生故障後停駛兩個多月，纜車公司聲稱會在應變及維修方面作出改善，但本月五日重開當天下午，因雷暴警告而暫停服務的應變安排依然差劣，政府指有訪客批評往穿梭巴士站的指示不清晰及輪候時間長。纜車公司事後表示，日後再有同類情況，會派員到昂坪市集協助乘客。

政府總結今年一月二十五日纜車故障的經驗，認為纜車公司的應變安排及在監督員工執行維修保養程序皆有不足之處，已督促管理層加強管理，全面監督員工以專業及勤奮的態度執行日常職務。

Cable car bosses high in lawmakers' sights
The Standard
Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Frequent disruptions to the high-profile Ngong Ping 360 service should mean penalties slapped on the MTR Corp unit that runs the cable car operation on Lantau, lawmakers say.

The service was resumed just recently after a two-month halt, prompted by a fault in the cable system that left 800 passengers hanging in gondolas for up to two hours.

Democratic Party legislator Fred Li Wah-ming said the administration should bring in a system to penalize the operator as blunders affect Hong Kong's image overseas.

Another legislator, Andrew Cheng Kar-foo, told the panel on economic development: "Fines should be in place or executives should have salaries or bonuses cut. There should be ways to penalize the frequent suspensions."

Government officials claim to have stepped up monitoring following a problem in January that halted services until April 5. That hitch, which meant bearings were replaced throughout the system, was the fourth technical fault in two months.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So Kam-leung said a better system for informing passengers of problems is in place and he doubts disruptions will affect the tourism industry's reputation in the long run.

He also claimed it will be inappropriate to intervene in its management as the operator is a directly owned subsidiary of MTR Corp, which is majority-owned by the government.

An Electrical and Mechanical Services Department probe into the latest hitch found the lubricant for bullwheel bearings was contaminated by water, which led to vibrations and an automatic shutdown when a sensor detected the problem.

The operator has now changed the lubricant used on the bearings, improved vibration monitoring, and will capture data on a continuous basis for more checks.

As for any problems to come, cable cars are now fitted with a communications system so that all passengers will be told immediately of any impending service disruption. And the MTR Corp's Ngong Ping 360 hotline center has been streamlined for answering inquiries during a disruption.