•
Sir,
UMELCO
SPEECH BY DR HON RICHARD LAI LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 4.6.1986
Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 1986
Village
vehicles
do,
and danger
have been used in parts of the New They have been of great importance in
communities whose only other form of
Territories for many years.
the growth of remote rural land transport is by Eoot : without them the daily life of residents of the outlying islands would be backward and laborious. Village vehicles
however, have their disadvantages, and the
disruption
they have brought to the narrow, steep footpaths and congested streets of places such as Cheung Chau have been the cause of many complaints from rural committees, Board members, and members of the general public. (Amendment) Bill 1986, in its proposals to legalise and regulate the use of existing village vehicles and to provide powers to limit
number and the
Of
will village vehicles,
way answering these complaints and will, I believe, be welcomed both by the residents of rural communities and by the operators of village
vehicles themselves.
use
District
The Road Traffic
go
some
to
An Ad HOC Group to
some
was
study the draft legislation formed, and, with the assistance of the Administration, we examined
Of the
the Bill in provisions
We detail.
are generally
satisfied that
that the Bill achieves its aim of providing for a simple and fair system of regulating village vehicles. We do, however, have a few reservations, and it is on these that I wish to take the opportunity of seeking the Government's reassurance.
that
One of the the main benefits of the permit system is that
it will enable the vehicles to be
accidents insured against involving third parties. I should like the Government to confirm the proposed the insurance companies have been consulted on permit system, and that they support the proposal and are prepared to offer policies at
at reasonable and realistic premiums. I should also be grateful if the Government would inform this Council of
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