Ngong Ping 360 cable car suspends service due to 'slight increase' in wear, missing out on 'golden week' tourism boon

The cable car operator of Ngong Ping 360 has suspended service and brought forward its scheduled maintenance after more surface wear was found on a section of the track rope - which means the tourist attraction will be closed during "golden week".

A "slight increase in surface wear" approximately 3 to 5mm long and 1 to 3mm deep was found on the track rope near the Nei Lak Shan section during a daily maintenance check on Wednesday, said the head of cable care operations Jeff Chan Yue-chiu. The cable car suspended services from yesterday.

Surface wear was found on the same track rope in late March, but was repaired immediately. However, the company decided then to move the maintenance forward from September to May 6. After the latest discovery, maintenance was brought forward again - to today.

"The scratching is normal and doesn't affect the operation of cable cars," said Chan, adding the maintenance date was changed to ensure no more scratching happens and to "ensure the durability" of the equipment.

"Since we've already made plans for experts and maintenance staff to perform rope shifting in May, we decided to bring it forward," he said.

But Chan said it was not known how big the loss would be, missing the "golden week" business, which usually brings flocks of mainland tourists to Hong Kong in the first week of May.