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G.S. 166
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CONFIDENTIAL #B
For discussion
XCC(81)4M
on 19th May 1981
Copy No...
of 80
MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
THE FUTURE OF THE HONG KONG TRAMWAY SYSTEM
On 12th May 1981, having considered memorandum XCC(81)47
Members advised and the Governor ordered :-
(a)
that further information be obtained as to:
(i)
(b)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
the legal obligation, if any, placed upon the Hong Kong Tramways Limited, by the Tramways Ordinance to maintain and operate the tramway; the terms on which the Mass Transit Railway Corporation would be prepared to operate the tramway;
the need for the Mass Transit Railway Corporation to have access to the Sharp Street depot site by summer 1981;
the possible staff problems which may arise in the event of the tramway being operated by the Mass Transit Railway Corporation until 1985/86 and then discontinued;
the estimated additional time which would be required to arrange for the sale of the Canton Road site by public tender as compared to its exchange for the Sharp Street site by private treaty;
that the proposals in memorandum XCC(81)47 should be considered further at the next meeting of Council in the light of that information.
The Council noted that the financial transactions outlined in paragraph 25 of the memorandum were not set out in chronological sequence and that the payment to the Wharf Company would not necessarily be made in advance.
The legal position
2
There are no statutory powers under the Tramway Ordinance whereby Hong Kong Tramways Ltd. can be forced to continue operations if it does not wish to do so. In the event that the Company simply opted to discontinue or run down services, the Government's powers would be limited to directing the Company to provide or improve services. If the- Company failed or neglected to comply with any such order, the Govern- ment's powers would be limited to terminating the Company's right to operate the service, and subsequently to removing the tracks etc., or to
CONFIDENTIAL
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