WEDNESDAY, JUNE
1982
19
A FITTING PROBLEM ON MR ALEX WU'S GENERAL DISAGREEMENT WITH THE PROPOSALS, WHO REFERRED TO THEM AS +TRIMMING ONE'S TOES TO FIT ONE'S SHOES+, MR SCOTT SAID MR WU OFFERED NO ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS AND SC HE HAD TO ASSUME THAT HE BELIEVED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM OR THE SITUATION WAS HOPELESS.
+ I SUGGEST TO HIM THAT WE MUST FACE FACTS AND CUT OUR COAT ACCORDING TO OUR CLOTH',* MR SCOTT SAID.
CONCESSION FOR DISABLED DRIVERS
IN REPLY TO DR HARRY FANG'S RECOMMENDATION FOR A FURTHER CONCESSION FOR DISABLED DRIVERS IN RESPECT OF FIRST REGISTRATION TAX. MR SCOTT SAID THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES HAD ASKED HIM TO SAY THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE EXAMINED.
MR SCOTT EXPLAINED THAT DISABLED DRIVERS COULD AT PRESENT CLAIM EXEMPTION FROM PAYMENT OF THE DRIVING TEST FEE, THE PROVISIONAL DRIVING LICENCE FEE, THE DRIVING LICENCE FEE, AND THE VEHICLE LICENCE FEE OF A VEHICLE BELOW 1 000 CC, TO BE RAISED TO 1 500 CC UNDER THE PROPOSALS.
+ IT APPEARED RATHER DIFFICULT AT FIRST, BUT WE THINK WE NOW HAVE A POSSIBLE SYSTEM WHEREBY A CONCESSION OF FIRST REGISTRATION TAX COULD BE MANAGED, HE SAID.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF RESTRAINT MEASURES
MR SCOTT REFERRED TO MRS SELINA CHOW'S ACCUSATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT FAILED TO INVOLVE MOTORISTS IN A BROAD DISCUSSION OF THE MEASURES OR INDEED OF ANY MEASURES WHICH THEY MIGHT PREFER, +WHILE ACCEPTING THE NEED FOR CONFIDENTIALITY+.
HE DID NOT ACCEPT THIS ACCUSATION. +THE REASONS AND BACKGROUND FOR THE PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY AIRED AND IT WAS AGREED WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THAT THIS DEBATE SHOULD NOT BE RESUMED UNTIL FOUR WEEKS AFTER THE BILLS WERE INTRODUCED, SO THAT PUBLIC OPINION COULD BE EXPRESSED, AND MADE KNOWN TO UNOFFICIALS IN THE USUAL WAY,+ HE SAID.
GOVERNMENT VEHICLES
ON THE USE OF GOVERNMENT VEHICLES BY CIVIL SERVANTS, MR SCOTT SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD TWO ROLES WHICH WERE TO SOME EXTENT CONFLICTING,
+ IT IS A LARGE EMPLOYER WITH A POLICY, BROADLY SPEAKING, OF BEING A GOOD EMPLOYER AND TAKING ACCOUNT OF PRACTICE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. AT THE SAME TIME, IT HAS TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT TRANSPORT POLICIES AS A WHOLE, HE SAID.
IN RESPONSE TO CONCERN EXPRESSED BY MR T.S. LO AND MRS SELINA CHOW, MR SCOTT SAID HE HAD BEEN ASKED BY THE DIRECTOR, COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT TO ASSURE THEM THAT A STRICT WATCH WOULD CONTINUE TO BE KEPT ON THE USE OF AND PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO THE FLEET OF SALOON CARS.
AMR
- UTT
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