WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1978
21
ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL
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A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT NO FURTHER PUBLIC CARS ARE TO BE REGISTERED WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, SAID ALTHOUGH THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE PROVIDED FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE CATEGORY OF PUBLIC OR RED PLATE CARS UNDER A SCHEME TO CONVERT THESE VEHICLES INTO TAXIS, THE LEGISLATION DID NOT EXPRESSLY PROHIBIT THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT FROM REGISTERING FURTHER PUBLIC CARS, THOUGH IT DID SO BY IMPLICATION.
HE SAID SOME APPLICATIONS HAD RECENTLY BEEN MADE FOR REGISTRATION AS PUBLIC CARS AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE AIM OF THESE APPLICANTS WAS SOLEY TO OBTAIN TAXI LICENCES ON FAVOURABLE TERMS.
MR. JONES SAID THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT HAD REFUSED THESE APPLICATIONS AND, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT NO FURTHER PUBLIC CARS ARE TO BE REGISTERED, THE BILL SOUGHT TO ADD A NEW SECTION TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE TO UNDERLINE THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S POWER TO LICENSE A VEHICLE AS A PUBLIC CAR CEASED ON NOVEMBER 1, 1977.
MR. JONES ALSO POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE PUBLIC CAR CONVERSION SCHEME, REGISTERED OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES ARE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONVERT THEIR CARS INTO TAXIS ON PAYMENT OF A PREMIUM, WHEN THEIR CURRENT LICENCES EXPIRED.
+THE MAJORITY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE NOW BEEN CONVERTED TO TAXIS AND WITHIN TWO OR THREE MONTHS, THE CATEGORY OF PUBLIC CAR WILL CEASE TO EXIST,+ HE ADDED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
DETENTION CENTRES (AMENDMENT) BILL
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A BILL TO MAKE APPROPRIATE DISTINCTION BETWEEN YOUNG OFFENDERS UNDER AND OVER THE AGE OF 21 YEARS IN RESPECT OF RECALL ORDERS UNDER THE DETENTION CENTRES ORDINANCE WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE DETENTION CENTRES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON, LEWIS DAVIES, SAID THE BILL SEEKS TO RECTIFY THE DETENTION CENTRES (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1976 WHICH OMITTED THE AGE DISTINCTION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS.
+WHEN THE SCHEME OF DETENTION WAS EXTENDED TO APPLY TO PERSONS OVER 21 BUT UNDER 25 YEARS OF AGE IT WAS DECIDED THAT DETAINEES IN THIS AGE BRACKET WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A MINIMUM PERIOD OF DETENTION OF THREE MONTHS AND A MAXIMUM PER 10D OF 12 MONTHS, MR. DAVIES SAID.
+THIS COMPARED WITH A MINIMUM DETENTION PERIOD OF ONE MONTH AND A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS FOR DETAINEES UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE,+ HE ADDED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL HAS BEEN ADJOURNED.
/22.