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FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1982
NEW KCR LEGISLATION PROPOSED
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A BILL SEEKING TO REPLACE THE EXISTING KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY ORDINANCE WITH NEW LEGISLATION DEALING ALSO WITH THE NEW ELECTRIFIED SERVICES WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT THE NEXT SITTING ON MARCH 10.
THE BILL, WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, IS MORE UP-TO-DATE IN ITS WORDING, MORE LOGICAL IN ITS PRESENTATION AND EASIER TO ADMINISTER.
THE FIRST PHASE OF THE ELECTRIFIED SERVICE BETWEEN KOWLOON AND SHA TIN WILL BEGIN ON MAY 6, AND THE SECOND PHASE, BETWEEN SHA TIN AND LO WU, WILL BEGIN IN MID 1983, A KCR SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SUBSTANCE OF THE BILL IS SIMILAR TO THAT CONTAINED IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE.
+BASICALLY IT INVOLVES THE TIDYING UP OF THE PRESENT ORDINANCE TO MAKE IT MORE LOGICAL IN PRESENTATION AND THE ADDITION OF NEW SECTIONS AND REGULATIONS TO COPE WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ELECTRIFIED SERVICE,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID THE FRESH LEGISLATION WAS PROPOSED FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF A NEW RAILWAY, WHICH WAS NOT ONLY A NEW CONCEPT OF SERVICE IN EVERY SENSE BUT ALSO AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AND NEW PRODUCT.
+SOME SECTIONS OF THE EXISTING ORDINANCE WHICH DEAL WITH THE OPERATION OF THE RAILWAY HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE AND INCORPORATED INTO THE REVISED REGULATIONS.
+THE INTENTION IS THAT THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE SHOULD BE CONFINED TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE RAILWAY WHILE THE REGULATIONS SHOULD COVER THE OPERATING DETAILS, PARTICULARLY THOSE AFFECTING THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENTS RELATING TO THE MODERNISED AND ELECTR IF IED SERVICE INCLUDE THE INTRODUCTION OF AN AUTOMATIC REVENUE COLLECTION SYSTEM AND THE ENHANCED SAFETY OF THE RAILWAY.
THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR HIGHER PENALTIES FOR ANYONE CAUGHT TAMPERING WITH ANY OF THE EQUIPMENT OR INSTALLATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE RAILWAY.
FLYING OF KITES, BALLOONS OR MODEL AIRCRAFT IN THE VICINITY OF THE RAILWAY IS ALSO PROHIBITED BECAUSE THIS COULD INTERFERE WITH, OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO, THE OVERHEAD WIRES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.
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