5-
یا سیاسی |
MR JONES HOPED THAT THE GRADUAL INTRODUCTION OF BUS-ONLY LANES ON SOME OF THE MORE CONGESTED ROUTES WILL HELP TO SPEED UP SERVICES AGAIN AND HE STRESSED THAT IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S SERIOUS INTENTION TO INTRODUCE MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY MEASURES OF THIS NATURE.
ON THE PROGRAMME OF IMPROVEMENTS INCORPORATED IN THE AGREEMENTS SIGNED WITH THE TWO BUS COMPANIES AT ABOUT THE TIME OF THE LAST BUS FARE INCREASES, MR JONES SAID IT COVERED FIVE MAIN AREAS
* PLANS FOR THE PURCHASE OF NEW BUSES AND SPARE PARTS RELATED TO ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES
*
*
*
*
TO BE AGREED WITH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND UPDATED ANNUALLY-
IMPROVED FACILITIES FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING OF BUSES-
BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS AND WAGES FOR DRIVERS MECHANICS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES AND THE RECRUITMENT OF MORE STAFF TO MAN AND MAINTAIN THE NEW BUSES-
THE PROVISION OF MORE DEPOT FACILITIES FOR THE PARKING, SERVICING AND REPAIRING OF BUSES- AND
REVIEW AND INTRODUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES OF THE COMPANIES.
MR JONES SAID BOTH BUS COMPANIES HAD TAKEN THE AGREEMENTS SERIOUSLY, ALTHOUGH THEY DIFFERED IN SOME RESPECTS IN THE RATE AT WHICH THE VARIOUS OBJECTIVES WERE BEING MET.
KMB HAS, IN GENERAL, REACTED QUICKLY AND HAS TAKEN
EFFECTIVE STEPS TO MEET THE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE AGREEMENT. IN PARTICULAR, THEY HAVE PLACED ORDERS FOR NEW BUSES ON TIME AND IN SUFFICIENT NUMBERS TO MEET THE ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT. ADEQUATE ADDITIONAL STAFF HAVE ALSO BEEN RECRUITED AND TRAINED, MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING IMPROVED, NEW DEPOT FACILITIES ARE BEING PLANNED AND MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS STREAMLINED, MR JONES SAID.
MR JONES SAID RECENT MONITORING EXERCISES CONFIRMED THAT KMB WAS ABLE TO MEET ITS SCHEDULED DAILY COMMITMENT OF BUSES IN FULL, ALTHOUGH THIS WAS MAKING BIG DEMANDS ON THE COMPANY'S MANPOWER AND
ITS MAINTENANCE FACILITIES. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW ROUTES TO THE NEW TOWNS AND HOUSING ESTATES AND FOR MTR FEEDER SERVICES WERE ALSO STRETCHING KMB'S RESOURCES TO THE LIMIT.
TURNING TO CMB, MR JONES SAID THE COMPANY HAD PLACED ORDERS FOR NEW BUSES SUFFICIENT TO MEET ITS TARGET FLEET SIZE. BUT, IN SOME OTHER AREAS OF THE AGREEMENT, PROGRESS HAD NOT BEEN AS RAPID AS COULD HAVE BEEN HOPED. NEVERTHELESS, SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE TOWARDS THE OBJECTIVES OF IMPROVED MAINTENANCE, BETTER WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS FOR STAFF AND THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL DEPOT SPACE. SOME IMPROVEMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE IN MANAGEMENT, ALTHOUGH FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF THE COMPANY'S MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE WOULD APPEAR TO BE REQUIRED.
AS A RESULT, HE SAID, CMB WAS ONLY ABLE TO MEET ABOUT 92 PER CENT OF ITS DAILY SCHEDULED COMMITMENT OF BUSES, ALTHOUGH THE SITUATION IN THIS RESPECT WAS GETTING BETTER AND IT SHOULD
IMPROVE FURTHER NEXT YEAR.
16..