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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1978
BAN CONSIDERED ON LEARNER DRIVERS DURING
NO. 8 STORM SIGNAL
*****
THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING A BAN ON LEARNER DRIVERS FROM THE ROADS AFTER THE NO. 8 TYPHOON SIGNAL IS HOISTED, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR. JONĖS ADDED, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG, THAT HE WILL ASK THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO CONTACT THE DRIVING INSTRUCTOR ASSOCIATIONS TO SEEK THEIR CO-OPERATION ON THESE OCCASIONS.
MR. JONES SAID THAT AT PRESENT, DRIVING TESTS CONDUCTED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY CANCELLED WHEN THE NO.3 STORM SIGNAL IS HOISTED, BUT ALL TESTS ARE SUSPENDED ONCE THE NO. 8 SIGNAL GOES UP.
HE CONSIDERED THE SUGGESTION OF BANNING LEARNER DRIVERS FROM THE ROADS WHEN THE NO. 3 SIGNAL IS HOISTED AS +TOO DRASTIC+.
+ IT IS REALLY A MATTER OF COMMON SENSE FOR DRIVING INSTRUCTORS TO KEEP THE IR PUPILS OFF THE ROADS WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE DANGEROUS,+ MR. JONES SAID.
EFFORTS MADE TO KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING AT HAPPY VALLEY ******
THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, SAID TODAY THAT COMMENDABLE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING AT THE VARIOUS JUNCTIONS OF LEIGHTON ROAD WHICH HAS BEEN SLOWED DOWN BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ELEVATED APPROACH ROADS TO THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. JONES SAID THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE AREA IS STILL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY OUTSIDE THE HEAVIEST PEAK HOURS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LEIGHTON ROAD - MORRISON HILL ROAD JUNCTION.
MR. JONES NOTED THAT LEARNER DRIVERS HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE TO USING LEIGHTON, WONG NEI CHONG AND MORRISON HILL ROADS BECAUSE THEY ARE PREVENTED FROM USING THE GREATER PART OF CAROLINE HILL ROAD AND THE MAJOR ROADS AROUND TUNG LO WAN.
+THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVE LEARNER ROUTES AND NO OFF-STREET DRIVING TRAINING CENTRES IN THIS AREA AND, GIVEN THE LIMITED LOCATIONS AVAILABLE TO LEARNER DRIVERS, I WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO SEE THEM BANNED FROM THESE ROADS ALTOGETHER, MR. JONES SAID.
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