Claims that the main cable holding Lantau's troubled Ngong Ping 360 cable cars was found to be worn during an annual check last year were confirmed yesterday.
Ngong Ping 360 managing director Wilson Shao Shing-ming said the incident did occur and it was decided that, following repair works, there was no need to halt operations.
Safety at the tourist attraction has been questioned since services were suspended last month after a bullwheel bearing showed undue wear.
Experts explained that the gondolas hung off the main cable, which should wear out at a known rate.
'The wear on the metal cable is normal because the system runs non-stop. Repair works were done immediately,' Shao said in a radio interview.
A company spokesperson said the wear had been slight and the overseas experts who performed an annual check from May to June had assessed it again following repairs to confirm it was safe. The incident was reported to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.
Professor Lo Kok-keung, an engineer from Polytechnic University's mechanical engineering department, said cables were subject to wear and tear just like train tracks and could snap if the damage was severe.