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Wednesday, July 19, 1972
GOVERNMENT URGED TO IMPLEMENT BILL WITHOUT DELAY
The amending bill empowering the Commissioner for Transport to auction
selected vehicle registration numbers will be welcomed by many private car
owners who fancy good and prestigious numbers.
Speaking during the resumed debate on the Road Traffic (Amendment)
Bill 1972 in the Legislative Council, the Hon. Szeto Wai explained that such
numbers are usually acquired as "status symbols" for expensive or prestigious
cars.
He pointed out that while there is open trading of good car registration
numbers, it is "ostrich-like not to recognise the possibility or the existence
of irregular practice."
Mr. Szeto agreed with the Financial Secretary that by bringing the
sale of these coveted numbers within the ambit of the law, the Transport
Department will be rid of "a continuing source of embarassment."
At the same time, by turning over the proceeds of the auction to
charitable purposes, the present bill will have "the double merit of public
acceptability and of jacking up the auction price," Mr. Szeto said,
He urged the Government to implement the provisions of the bill without
further delay and pointed out that it was first considered by the Transport
Advisory Committee more than 2 years ago.
The delay has already robbed charity of "a very substantial sum" of
money in the course of the two and a half years, he said.
/Speaking