WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1982

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MOVE TO LIMIT CIVIL LIABILITY OF LICENSED PILOTS

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A BILL SEEKING TO LIMIT THE CIVIL LIABILITY OF A LICENSED PILOT FOR NEGLECT OR LACK OF SKILL IN NAVIGATION TO THE SUM OF

1 300 AND THE AMOUNT OF THE PILOTAGE DUES, WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON D.G. JEAFFRESON.

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PILOTAGE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT IN RECENT YEARS, THE HIGH LIABILITY OF A PILOT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT HAD AROUSED CONCERN AMONG LOCAL PILOTS,

+THIS MAY HAMPER THE HONG KONG PILOTS ASSOCIATION'S EFFORTS TO TRAIN UP SUFFICIENT PILOTS TO MAKE COMPULSORY PILOTAGE PRACTICABLE,+ HE SAID.

BY LIMITING PILOTS' LIABILITY, ONE OBSTACLE TO THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY PILOTAGE IN HONG KONG IN THE NEAR FUTURE WOULD BE REMOVED, HE SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

GUARANTEE FOR MTR LOAN

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE TO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION TO COVER THE REPAYMENT OF A $576-MILLION LOAN.

THE SUM BORROWED UNDER THIS GUARANTEE WILL BE USED TO FINANCE THE ISLAND LINE CONTRACTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHEUNG WAN STATION, ITS EAST AND CENTRE CONCOURSES AND ITS OVERRUN TUNNEL, INCLUDING THE CROSSOVER.

THIS BRINGS THE GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL GUARANTEE COMMITMENT IN RESPECT OF THE OUTSTANDING LOANS AVAILABLE TO THE MTR CORPORATION TO $8 613 MILLION.

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