FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1976
NEW CLASS OF NEW TERRITORIES TAXI EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED ******
A NEW CLASS OF NEW TERRITORIES TAXI WILL BE INTRODUCED IF LEGISLATION ENABLING THE GOVERNMENT TO DO SO IS PASSED.
A BILL TO AMEND THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE BY MAKING NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS A CLASS OF VEHICLE, WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.
THE BILL, KNOWN AS THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, IS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY) FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC.
IF THE BILL IS PASSED IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY REGULATIONS TO ENABLE THE INTRODUCTION AND CONTROL OF THIS NEW CLASS OF TAXI.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IT IS PROPOSED INITIALLY TO LIMIT THE ISSUE OF NEW TERRITORIES TAXI LICENCES TO 750, TO BE PROCESSED IN THREE BATCHES OF 250 EACH,
IT IS EXPECTED THAT DETAILS OF HOW TO APPLY WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AT THE END OF JULY.
THE SPOKESMAN WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS WILL BE RESTRICTED TO OPERATING IN THE RURAL AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES IN OTHER WORDS THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN THE URBAN AREAS OR IN TSUEN WAN AND SHATIN.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ON THE NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS IS TO PREVENT THEM FROM GRAVITATING TOWARDS THE URBAN AREAS AND THUS FRUSTRATING THE OBJECT OF THIS SCHEME WHICH IS TO PROVIDE THE POPULATION OF THE RURAL AREAS WITH A LEGAL TAXI SERVICE IN PLACE OF THE PRESENT ILLEGAL +PAK PAIS+.
ORDINARY TAXIS WILL, OF COURSE, CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE ADDED.
THE PROPOSED FARE STRUCTURE FOR N.T. TAXIS WILL BE $1 FOR THE FIRST MILE AND 20 CENTS FOR EVERY ONE-FIFTH OF A MILE THEREAFTER.
N.T. TAXI LICENCES WILL BE ISSUED TO APPLICANTS WITHOUT CALLING FOR EITHER TENDERS OR THE PAYMENT OF A PREMIUM.
FOR THE INITIAL ISSUE EACH SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE N.T. TAXI LICENCE, THE PRE-QUALIFICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A LICENCE BEING OWNERSHIP SINCE JANUARY 1, 1976 OF A PRIVATE CAR AND THE POSSESSION, FOR A PERIOD OF OVER THREE YEARS, OF A LICENCE TO DRIVE A PRIVATE CAR.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE AIM OF THIS PRE-QUALIFICATION IS TO GIVE PRESENT +PAK PAI+ OWNERS/OPERATORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE UP THE LICENCES.
/THE VEHICLE
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