THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1983
SIR PHILIP VISITS LAND TRANSPORT AGENCY
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SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, TODAY VISITED THE GOVERNMENT LAND TRANSPORT AGENCY. HE WAS BRIEFED BY MR JOHN GRAY, CONTROLLER, GOVERNMENT LAND TRANSPORT AND HIS SENIOR STAFF ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AGENCY,
SIR PHILIP THEN VISITED THE KAI TAK AND HONG KONG TRANSPORT POOLS. HE MET THE TRANSPORT SUPERVISORS AND THEIR STAFF, AND SAW TRANSPORT OPERATIONS AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES,
THE GOVERNMENT LAND TRANSPORT AGENCY WAS FORMED IN MAY 1978 UNDER SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE WHEN HE WAS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. THE AIM WAS TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE RESOURCES OF THE GOVERNMENT VEHICLE FLEET, CONSISTING OF SOME 5 000 VEHICLES AT THE TIME WERE MANAGED EFFICIENTLY, AND TO CO-ORDINATE TRANSPORT RESOURCES IN THE MOST ECONOMICAL WAY.
IN 1979, THE GOVERNMENT LAND TRANSPORT AGENCY BECAME INDEPENDENT AND TOOK OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT POOLS FROM THE THEN ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE. THE CONTROLLER, GOVERNMENT LAND TRANSPORT NOW ADMINISTERS ALL THE TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT AND DRIVER GRADES OF OVER 3 000 PERSONNEL.
THE GOVERNMENT LAND TRANSPORT AGENCY HAS INTRODUCED MODERN TECHNIQUES INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT VEHICLE FLEET WHICH NOW HAS A TOTAL OF 6 000 VEHICLES WITH A CAPITAL COST OF $650 MILLION. THE GROWTH OF THE GOVERNMENT VEHICLE FLEET HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM 9.8 PER CENT IN 1978/79 TO 4.5 PER CENT IN 1983/84, ESSENTIALLY BY ADVISING DEPARTMENTS HOW TO MAKE MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF EXISTING RESOURCES. IN 1984 IT IS INTENDED TO INTRODUCE COMPUTER SYSTEMS WHICH WILL IMPROVE THE CURRENT TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM.
THIS IN TURN WILL ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF THE AGENCY TO MAXIMISE THE UTILISATION OF GOVERNMENT VEHICLES.
NOTE TO EDITORS.
GOVERNOR RETURNS TOMORROW ****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL RETURN FROM PEKING TOMORROW (FRIDAY) ON FLIGHT CA 103, ETA 1.55 PM, AFTER ATTENDING ANOTHER TWO DAYS OF TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG,
A PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY WILL BE ARRANGED AT THE AIRPORT FOR PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER HIS RETURN. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING NOT LATER THAN 12.40 PM.
GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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