WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1983
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NT TAXIS INCREASING AT 50 A MONTH
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LICENCES FOR NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS HAVE BEEN ISSUED AT THE RATE OF 50 A MONTH SINCE JULY 1981, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SINCE THAT MONTH, WHEN THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL ORDERED THAT NT TAXI LICENCES BE ISSUED AT THE MONTHLY RATE OF 50, 900 LICENCES HAD BEEN OFFERED AT SIX TENDERS HELD AT QUARTERLY INTERVALS, MR SCOTT SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON T.S. LO.
THE ACTUAL INCREASE IN NT TAXIS ON THE ROAD MAY BE MORE OR LESS THAN 50 PER MONTH, BUT OVER A PERIOD THE FLUCTUATIONS LEVEL OUT, HE SAID.
THE RATE OF ISSUE WAS DECIDED HAVING REGARD TO THE LIKELY INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR TAXIS IN THE NT, HE EXPLAINED.
FACTORS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, SUCH AS THE EXTENSION OF THE MTR TO TSUEN WAN, THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE KCR AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MAXICAB ROUTES, HE ADDED.
$1 BILLION SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS APPROVED
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED A MOTION APPROVING SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS AMOUNTING TO $1 BILLION FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.
MOVING THE MOTION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAD APPROVED ALL THE ITEMS IN THE SCHEDULE.
MAJOR ITEMS UNDER THE PROVISION INCLUDE:
* $379 MILLION TO MEET PROVISION FOR THE CREATION OF FOUR
NEW HEADS OF EXPENDITURE — CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND TRADE DEPARTMENT;
* $109 MILLION FOR PAYMENT OF HOME PURCHASE ALLOWANCE TO
CIVIL SERVANTS :
*
$98 MILLION TO MEET EXPENDITURE FOR THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL WATER FROM CHINA; AND
* $91 MILLION TO MEET PAYMENT OF A GRANT TO THE URBAN
COUNCIL FOR VARIOUS SALARY ADJUSTMENTS.
THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION COVERED BY THE SCHEDULE RESULTED
IN A NET INCREASE OF $98 MILLION IN EXPENDITURE SINCE APRIL 1,
+
1982, THE REMAINDER BEING OFFSET UNDER OTHER HEADS OF EXPENDITURE AND BY THE FREEZING OF FUNDS UNDER THE TWO ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS VOTES, MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
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