TUP
1
TRANSPORT FARE INCREASES
: X
FRIDAY, OCTØJER 3.
1975
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCILS APPROVED FARE INCREASES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMPANIES HONG KONG TRAMWAYS, STAK FF Y AND PEAK TRAMWAYS. IN THE CASE OF THE STAR FERRY AND HONG KONG TRAMWAYS, THE INCRE..ES WILL NOW BE SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE NECESSARY LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO BE MADE.
AT THE SAME TIME, A PROPOSAL TO WAIVE OR REDUCE ROYALTIES WILL ALSO BE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL. THE DRAFT PROVISIONS REQUIRED TO BRING THESE CHANGES INTO EFFECT ARE PUBLISHED IN TOS 'S GAZETTE.
THE PROPOSED NEW FARE STRUCTURES WILL BE A FLAT 30 CENTS FO HONG KONG TRAMWAYS (AN INCREASE OF 10 CENTS)= 30 CENTS FO THE TOP DECK OF THE STAR FERRY AND 15 CENTS FOR THE LOWER DE (AN INCREASE OF 5 CENTS IN EACH CASE) AND $1.50 FOR THE PEA. TRAM OR $1 BETWEEN MAY ROAD AND EITHER THE UPPER OR LOWER TERMINI (AN INCREASE OF 50 CENTS IN EACH CASE).
THESE INCREASES, WHICH ARE SCHEDULED TO COME INTO EFFECT ON DECEMBER 1, ARE REQUIRED BECAUSE THE COMPANIES HAVE HAD TO FACE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED COSTS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, IN PARTICULAR THE FOUR-FCLD INCREASE IN THE PRICE OF FUEL OIL IN 1974.
IN THE CASE OF THE STAR FERRY, THERE HAS BEEN ONLY ONE MINOR INCREASE IN FARES IN THI: PAST 30 YEARS - A 5 CENT INCREASE IN THE FIRST CLASS FARE IN 1966, THE SECOND CLASS FARE HAS REMAINED AT 10 CENTS SINCE 1946.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT FIGURES SUPPLIED BY THE STAR FERRY COMPANY INDICATED THAT, WITHOUT A FARE INCREASE, IT WOULD HAVE SUFFELD A SERIES OF LOSSES RISING FROM $500,000 IN 1975 TO OVER $2 MILLION IN 1977.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE INCREASE OF ONLY FIVE CENTS IN BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND CLADS FARES AT THE PRESE IT TIME WAS AIMED AT KEEPING INCREASES TO THE MINIMUM NECESSARY. HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF STEADILY RISING COSTS, ANOTHER INCREASE OF FIVE CENTS IN THE SECOND CHSS FARE WOULD BE INTRODUCED FROM JANUARY 1, 1977, GIVING TUO-STAGE RISE AS AJ ALTERNATIVE OF HAVING TO PAY 20 CENTS STRAIGHT AWAY.
THIS WOULD THEN ERING THE FARES ON THE STAR FERRY INTO LINE WITH THOSE ON THE HONG KOLG AND YAU-1ATI FERRY COMPANY FOR ITS CROSS HARBOUR ROUTES - 30 LENTS FIRST CLASS AND 20 CENTS SECOND CLASS.
IN THE CASE OF THE HONG NG TRAMWAYS COMPANY THE LAST INCREASE WAS IN 1972 WHEN THE OLD THIRD CLASS ACCOMODATION WAS ABOLISHED AND A STANDARD f. RE OF 20 CENTS WAS INTRODUCED TO REPLACE THE PREVIOLS FARE ( 20 CENTS UPSTAIRS ND 10 CENTS DOWN STAIRS.
/SINCE THE.