THE wonders of modern technology. When an MTR train pulls into a station it looks like a thundering juggernaut. Nothing can stop it until it is ready to stop itself.
And yet, to the embarrassment of all concerned, this formidable piece of machinery was paralysed at a stroke by a Minnie Mouse balloon last week.
The incident resulted in a tricky problem for the MTR management. The company has already banned eating, drinking, bamboo poles, wheelchairs, smoking, going to the toilet and carrying whole roast pigs - no doubt for good reasons. Could it add to the list a ban on balloons and still be taken seriously? Commuters require fast and convenient transport but do not want a mobile sample of life as it is in Singapore.
Last week managers were obviously worried by the thought of uniformed MTR flunkies on duty at stations to confiscate the balloons of travelling toddlers.
One spokesman commented darkly the balloon which paralysed the Island line seemed to be of more robust construction than previous sabotage methods.
Apparently, the odd balloon has drifted on to overhead wires before, but usually they are vaporised by the current.