04
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 195
HE SAID THE NEW LANTAU BUS COMPANY WAS AWARDED AN EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE LAST YEAR, ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ITS SERVICES, AND TO PROVIDE IT WITH THE SECURITY IT NEEDED TO INVEST IN MORE BUSES AND DEPOTS.
SINCE THEN, THE COMPANY HAD ADDED SEVEN SINGLE-DECKER BUSES TO ITS FLEET AND NOW TWO NEW DOUBLE DECKERS REPRESENTING A VERY CONSIDERABLE CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES ARE BEING INTRODUCED TO LANTAU IN ORDER TO INCREASE PASSENGER CARRYING CAPACITY, TO PROVIDE MORE COMFORT FOR PASSENGERS AND, BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE ECONOMIC TO OPERATE, TO KEEP COSTS AND THEREFORE FARES DOWN.
THE PURCHASE OF THE DOUBLE DECKERS IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT THE COMPANY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE CONFIDENTLY AND TAK ING POSITIVE STEPS TO IMPROVE ITS SERVICES, MR ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT SAID.
THE TWO NEW DOUBLE DECKERS WILL BE DEPLOYED ON THE MUI Wo TO TONG FUK ROUTE STARTING FROM TODAY. DURING SUMMER, THEY WILL SERVE THE HEAVY RECREATIONAL ROUTE BETWEEN MUI WO AND CHEUNG SHA BEACH.
REMINDER TO RATEPAYERS
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RATEPAYERS ARE REMINDED THAT RATES FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR (APRIL-JUNE) MUST BE PAID BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
A TREASURY SPOKESMAN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID LATE PAYMENTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO A FIVE PER CENT SURCHARGE, AND A FURTHER TEN PER CENT SURCHARGE ON AMOUNTS STILL OUTSTANDING SIX MONTHS AFTER THE DUE DATE.
HE NOTED THAT RATEPAYERS SHOULD BY NOW HAVE RECEIVED DEMAND NOTES FOR THE CURRENT QUARTER.
ANY RATEPAYER WHO HAS NOT YET RECEIVED A DEMAND NOTE SHOULD APPLY IMMEDIATELY FOR A COPY AT THE RATES SECTION OF THE TREASURY IN ROOM 203, HANG CHONG BUILDING, SECOND FLOOR, 5 QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL.
+NON-RECEIPT OF THE DEMAND NOTE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, DOES NOT ALTER THE REQUIREMENT FOR PAYMENT.
TO AVOID QUEUING AT THE COUNTERS, RATEPAYERS ARE ADVISED TO PAY BY CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER SENT BY POST OR MAKE THEIR PAYMENTS EARLY AT ANY ONE OF THE OFFICES LISTED ON THE BACK OF THE DEMAND NOTE.
RATES ARE PAYABLE ON VACANT PROPERTIES BUT ARE REFUNDABLE UNDER CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE RATING ORDINANCE.
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT REFUNDABLE IN THE CASE OF A VACANT TENEMENT LAST USED OR INTENDED TO BE USED WHOLLY OR PRIMARILY FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES, UNLESS THE TENEMENT IS VACANT BY REASON OF AN ORDER OF THE GOVERNMENT.