7
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1982
BETWEEN APRIL 1980 AND MARCH 1981, THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS REJECTED ON THIS GROUND WAS 214 (OR 60.8 PER CENT) OUT OF A TOTAL OF 352 CASES TURNED DOWN.
IT IS THEREFORE FELT THAT THE SEVEN-DAY REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE RELAXED TO ALLOW MORE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS TO BENEFIT FROM THE SCHEME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE THREE-DAY RULE IS ALSO IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT PROVISIONS UNDER THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME, HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO THE REDUCTION IN LEVIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER PRESENT REGULATIONS, DRIVING AND VEHICLE LICENCES MAY BE RENEWED AT ANY TIME FOUR MONTHS BEFORE EXPIRY AND THAT SUCH RENEWAL IS EFFECTIVE FROM THE DATE OF EXPIRY.
THEREFORE, WHERE DRIVING OR VEHICLE LICENCES ARE RENEWED IN ADVANCE BEFORE MAY 1, 1982, THE REDUCED LEVY WILL BE CHARGED IN THE CASE OF THOSE RENEWALS WHICH ARE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE ON OR AFTER THAT DATE.
IN ALL OTHER CASES. WHERE THE LICENCES ISSUED ARE EFFECTIVE FROM A DATE UP TO AND INCLUDING APRIL 30, 1982, THE CURRENT RATES OF THE LEVY WILL APPLY.
THERE IS NO STATUTORY PROVISION FOR REFUNDS OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CURRENT AND REVISED RATES IN CASES WHERE PAYMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE FOR RENEWALS EFFECTIVE ON OR AFTER MAY 1, 1982.
NEW TERRITORIES TAXI TENDERS
***
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT
2 774 TENDERS SEEKING 2 998 NEW TERRITORIES TAXI LICENCES WERE RECEIVED WHEN THE OFFER CLOSED ON DECEMBER 4 LAST YEAR.
THE HIGHEST TENDER WAS $61 200 AND THE LOWEST ACCEPTED BID WAS $35 000.
DETAILS OF SUCCESSFUL TENDERERS AND THE AMOUNTS OFFERED WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY),
THE AVERAGE PREMIUM IN THE LATEST TENDER WAS $41 142.22, COMPARED WITH AN AVERAGE PREMIUM OF $53 019.87 IN THE PREVIOUS TENDER IN SEPTEMBER, A DECREASE OF ABOUT 22 PER CENT.
LETTERS WILL BE SENT OUT TODAY TO SUCCESSFUL TENDERERS.
18