WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1976.
1976
16
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1976
STRICTER CONTROL ON USE OF MOTORCYCLES
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THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. ALAN ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THE INCREASING USE OF MOTOR CYCLES ON FOOTPATHS AND TRACKS AND OVER THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE WAS CAUSING NUISANCE AND DANGER BOTH TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO ENJOY THE COUNTRYSIDE.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A DANGER OF EROSION BEING CAUSED, PARTICULARLY WHERE MOTOR CYCLES WERE RIDDEN ACROSS OPEN COUNTRY.
MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT WAS MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1976 WHICH SEEKS TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF MOTOR CYCLES BOTH ON UNLEASED CROWN LAND OTHER THAN ROADS, AND ON PEDESTRIAN ROADS.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BILL, HE SAID, WAS TO BRING THIS SITUATION UNDER CONTROL BEFORE IT GOT OUT OF HAND.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, PUBLIC SERVANTS ON DUTY AND PEOPLE ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, CONSTRUCTION WORK OR SIMILAR ACTIVITY, WHO HAD A LEGITIMATE NEED TO RIDE MOTOR CYCLES ON PEDESTRIAN ROADS AND ON UNLEASED CROWN LAND, WOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM THE PROVISION OF THIS BILL.
+ALSO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT MAY ISSUE PERMITS TO OTHER LEGITIMATE USERS AND MAY EXEMPT CERTAIN PEDESTRIAN ROADS FROM THE PROVISION OF THIS BILL, FOR EXAMPLE, TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL ACCESS TO VILLAGES, MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT ADDED.
HE SUGGESTED THAT MOTOR CYCLISTS WHO ENJOYED ROUGH RIDING AS A PASTIME COULD JOIN THE SCRAMBLES ORGANISED BY THE MOTOR SPORTS CLUB AT SUITABLE LOCATIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
LAW RELATING TO GAMBLING WILL BE AMENDED
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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, TODAY SAID THAT A BILL TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO GAMBLING WOULD BE INTRODUCED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN ON WHEN THE GAMBLING ORDINANCE WOULD BE AMENDED TO ENABLE THE COURTS TO TERMINATE THE TENANCY OF THE PREMISES WHERE A GAMBLING OFFENCE HAD BEEN PERSISTENTLY COMMITTED.
MR. HOBLEY SAID THE PRESENT INTENTION WAS THAT THE BILL SHOULD INCLUDE A PROVISION ALONG THE LINES TO WHICH MR. CHEONG-LEEN REFERRED.
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