WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1979
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BUS SERVICES ON HK ISLAND
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THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE EXISTING BUS SERVICES PROVIDED FOR CHAI WAN, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR. JONES SAID THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY WAS NOT ALWAYS PROVIDING SUFFICIENT BUSES TO MEET THE OFFICIAL SCHEDULES AGREED WITH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
AS A RESULT, HE NOTED, PASSENGERS HAD TO WAIT LONGER AT BUS STOPS AND TRAVEL IN MORE CROWDED CONDITIONS.
THE ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY POINTED OUT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BROUGHT THESE CIRCUMSTANCES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BUS COMPANY, WHO HAD SINCE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
+FUNDAMENTALLY, HOWEVER, HE STRESSED, +MORE FREQUENT SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED ONLY BY ADDING TO THE TOTAL FLEET OF BUSES.+
LAST DECEMBER THE BUS COMPANY HAD DECIDED TO ORDER ADDITIONAL BUSES, MR. JONES SAID.
WHEN THESE NEW HIGH-CAPACITY VEHICLES WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE SERVICE, THERE SHOULD BE A GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IN BUS SERVICES GENERALLY ON HONG KONG ISLAND, INCLUDING SERVICES TO CHAI WAN.
GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL TO CONSIDER
PROPOSALS ON HOUSING OF CIVIL SERVANTS
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THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. MARTIN ROWLANDS SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BARRING UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO PUT PROPOSALS ON HOUSING OF CIVIL SERVANTS TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL FOR BROAD AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. ROWLANDS SAID STAFF ASSOCIATIONS WOULD BE CONSULTED AFTER THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL AGREED TO THE SE PROPOSALS.
BUT HE WARNED THAT THE INITIAL FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF ANY SCHEME COULD BE COSTLY AND TIMING OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION WOULD NEED TO HAVE REGARD TO THE ECONOMIC AND BUDGETARY SITUATION AT THE TIME.
HOWEVER, HE ASSURED THAT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE WAS BEING DONE TO BRING ABOUT AN EARLY CONCLUSION TO THIS IMPORTANT BUT COMPLEX ISSUE+.
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