Records show ride may be interrupted many days a year
Gale-force winds exceeding 90km/h near the site of the Big Buddha on Lantau disrupted the Ngong Ping 360 cable car on the first day of trials yesterday.
Media invited to try out the ride in the afternoon were informed at 3pm they would be bused to Ngong Ping rather than go by cable car after high winds were detected near the intermediate station on Nei Lak Shan. By 5pm, weather conditions had improved enough to experience the return trip by cable car.
Bill Calderwood, managing director of Skyrail-ITM which operates the ride, said adverse weather in the area, including a typhoon signal number 8, black rainstorm warning, lightning or electrical storms, and prolonged periods with winds topping 90km/h could result in the cable car ride being suspended for safety reasons.
As much advance notice as possible would be given regarding delays, and public notices and announcements would be made through the media. Refunds would be provided for the unused portion of tickets.
'We are constantly monitoring the weather conditions,' he said. He pointed out that wind conditions at Ngong Ping and Tung Chung, where the cable car ride starts, were different.
The operator has a link to the Hong Kong Observatory, allowing it to check weather patterns.
The Observatory reported wind speeds of more than 90km/h on 92 days last year, meaning the ride could be delayed or closed to the public for about three months of the year. Average annual data between 2002 and last year show 55.3 days of the year experienced these high winds at Ngong Ping. July is the windiest month, with an average of 62 hours of winds exceeding 90km/h. The summer season, June to September, tends to be the windiest.
The new tourist attraction also features the Ngong Ping Village, with shops, eateries and entertainment. The Hong Kong Tourism Board expects it to have special appeal to families and long-haul travellers. It opens on June 24.
The cable car ride at Ocean Park in Aberdeen is stopped if wind speeds exceeding 75km/h are detected at least three times within 30 minutes, a spokeswoman for the marine park said.
The speed of the cable cars will be slowed if winds stay between 55 and 75km/h. Shuttle buses will be deployed to transport visitors between both ends of the park if the cable cars are halted.
