WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1980
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TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTY FIGURES HAD DECLINED MARGINALLY AND MUCH GOOD WORK HAD BEEN DONE IN THIS FIELD. BUT, HE SAID, NONE OF US WOULD ACCEPT THIS AS SATISFACTORY.
HE SAID A ROAD SAFETY DIVISION WAS BEING FORMED TO UNDERTAKE MORE SCIENTIFIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS AND TO TAKE COUNTER-MEASURES.
ON THE MTR WHICH WAS HAVING A MAJOR EFFECT ON TRANSPORT PATTERNS, THE GOVERNOR SAID A DECISION WOULD BE TAKEN SHORTLY ON WHETHER IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
IN ANY EVENT, HE SAID, THE EFFECT OF THE MTR WOULD CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED CAREFULLY TO ENSURE THAT ALL FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT WERE INTEGRATED INTO AN EFFICIENT NETWORK.
HE SAID AGREEMENTS HAD BEEN SIGNED IN FEBRUARY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MAJOR BUS COMPANIES, INCLUDING PROGRAMMES TO IMPROVE THEIR STANDARDS OF SERVICE.
THESE PROGRAMMES INCLUDED THE ACQUISITION OF 420 NEW DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES THIS YEAR AND 640 NEXT, AND IMPROVED MAINTENANCE FACILITIES.
ON FERRIES, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO INTRODUCE A FERRY SERVICE ORDINANCE LATER THIS YEAR UNDER WHICH NEW FRANCHISES WITH THE MAJOR FERRY COMPANIES WOULD BE DESIGNED TO ENSURE THE FUTURE EFFICIENCY AND VIABILITY OF FERRY OPERATIONS.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID THE $2 000 MILLION PROGRAMME TO MODERNISE AND ELECTRIFY THE RAILWAY FROM HUNG HOM TO LO WU WAS NOW WELL UNDER WAY, WORK WOULD BE SEEN INCREASINGLY ON THE GROUND AS MORE CONTRACTS WERE LET ON THE ROUTE OF THE ENTIRE RAILWAY WHICH SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 1982.
+WHEN THE INTERCHANGE WITH THE MTR AT KOWLOON TONG IS COMPLETED IN APRIL 1982, THE TWO SYSTEMS SHOULD GREATLY IMPROVE THE CONVENIENCE OF OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORT, SIR MURRAY ADDED.
HOME PURCHASE SCHEME PROPOSALS GOING TO EXCO SOON ****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PROPOSALS FOR THE HOME PURCHASE SCHEME FOR CIVIL SERVANTS WOULD SHORTLY BE PUT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
SIR MURRAY SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE SCHEME, IF ACCEPTED, MIGHT HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN PHASES DUE TO ITS FAR-REACHING FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS.
BUT HE SINCERELY HOPED A START COULD BE MADE IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
/ON THE
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