MONDAY, JULY 12, 1982
FARE REVISION FOR MAXICAB SERVICES
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THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, FOLLOWING THE ADVICE GIVEN BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HAS APPROVED A 50 PER CENT INCREASE IN MAXIMUM FARES FOR MAXICAB ROUTES.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT MAXICAB OPERATORS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ADJUST THEIR FARES AUTOMATICALLY.
+HOWEVER, THEY MAY NOW MAKE APPLICATIONS TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT FOR FARE INCREASES FOR THE SERVICES THEY OPERATE WITHIN THE NEW MAXIMUM LIMITS, HE CONTINUED.
+ONCE THE IR APPLICATIONS ARE APPROVED, ADVANCE NOTICE WILL BE GIVEN TO ADVISE PASSENGERS ON THE NEW FARES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
LETTERS ADVISING OF THE NEW MAXIMUM FARES WILL BE SENT OFF TO INDIVIDUAL OPERATORS SHORTLY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE APPROVAL OF INCREASED MAXIMUM FARES WAS GIVEN AFTER A DETAILED SURVEY INTO THE OPERATING ECONOMICS AND SERVICES.
AND THE REVISION, HE SAID, WAS LARGELY ATTRIBUTABLE TO INCREASES IN FUEL COSTS, DRIVER WAGES, MAINTENANCE AND ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES WHICH OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS HAD LARGELY REDUCED THE REVENUE OF THE OPERATORS.
THE FARE SCALE FOR MAXICAB SERVICES WAS LAST REVISED IN MID-1980 FOLLOWING A SURVEY ON THE MAXICAB TRADE IN 1979.
POLICY ON CHILD CARE SERVICES EXPLAINED ***
ADMISSION TO DAY CARE CENTRES FOR CHILDREN IN FUTURE WILL NO LONGER BE RESTRICTED TO THOSE FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ALTHOUGH PRIORITY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE GIVEN TO THOSE WITH THE GREATEST NEED, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE FIRST GRADUATION CEREMONY OF STUDENTS FROM THE CHILD CARE CERTIFICATE COURSE AT THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, SHE SAID: THIS IS AN AREA WHERE BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN PLAY USEFUL COMPLEMENTARY ROLES.+
THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF NON-PROF IT-MAKING CHILD CARE CENTRES BY WAY OF ASSISTANCE IN SECURING ACCOMMODATION, CAPITAL FITTING-OUT COSTS AND REIMBURSEMENT OF RENTS AND RATES.
/MIS CHAN