【明報專訊】Last month, eighteen were injured in an escalator accident that occurred in Langham Place, Mongkok (below). It has again drawn attention to escalator safety. The use of lifts and escalators in Hong Kong is governed by the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance (《升降機及自動梯條例》), as is their maintenance. No new lifts or escalators may be used without the permission of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (機電工程署).

To be safe, a person using an escalator should hold the handrail and keep his feet away from stair edges. To avoid an accident, one should refrain from walking on an escalator or extend any part of one's body over the handrail. One must not tamper with the emergency stop button, which is used only in an emergency. Furthermore, a person with a pushchair or in a wheelchair should always use a lift instead of an escalator.

(sources: Ming Pao, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department)

■Game １

The floor plan of a shopping mall shows there are five CCTV cameras that rotate and monitor all corners of it. To cut cost, the company that manages it wants to use only three cameras to perform the same function. Where should they be placed?

(Note: the cameras must be placed at corners)

■Game ２

Eason recklessly walks in the reverse direction on an escalator and has caused damage to it. Which three pieces come from the missing part of the escalator step?

(Answers on next text)

■English highway﹕ tamper with

To tamper with something is to misuse or make changes to it without permission, especially in order to damage it.

e.g. MoMo can't open the door because Eason has tampered with its lock.

■Glossary

maintenance (n) 保養

permission (n) 許可

handrail (n) 扶手

pushchair (n) 嬰兒車

[Smarties' Power English Vol 184]