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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1983
LACK OF PASSENGERS CANCELS FERRY RUN
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DECLINING USE LED TO THE CANCELLATION OF THE LONG-STAND ING FERRY SERVICE SERVING TUNG CHUNG AND TAI 0, SAID THE HON ALAN SCOTT, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR SCOTT WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, WHO ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF THE DIFFICULTIES THE CANCELLATION CAUSED TO VILLAGE AND WHAT STEPS COULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THE INTER-VILLAGE KAI-TO SERVICE OPERATES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND AT REASONABLE COST. IN ADDITION, MR CHEUNG WISHED TO BE ASSURED THAT ROAD CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE VILLAGES WOULD BE IMPROVED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
MR SCOTT ACCEPTED THAT THE CANCELLATION OF THE FERRY SERVICE DID, INDEED, CAUSE INCONVENIENCE BUT SAID THAT IT HAD COME ABOUT THROUGH DECLINING USE.
+WHEN RECENTLY SURVEYED, THE FERRY WAS CARRYING LESS THAN 100 PASSENGERS PER DAY ON WEEKDAYS. ITS CAPACITY IS FOR OVER 500 PASSENGERS. IT HAS, OBVIOUSLY, BEEN OPERATING AT A CONSIDERABLE LOSS. THE PROPOSAL TO CANCEL IT WAS GIVEN VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND WAS DECIDED WITH THE ADVICE OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HE SAID.
THE DECLINE IN USE REFLECTS, TO SOME EXTENT, THE INCREASING USE OF OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORT, SAID MR SCOTT. BOTH TAI O AND TUNG CHUNG ARE CONNECTED BY BUS TO MUI WO, WHICH PROVIDES FREQUENT FERRY SERVICES TO CENTRAL.
STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE ROAD SYSTEM LINKING OTHER VILLAGES TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS TO THE BUS NETWORK ON LANTAU.
FIGURES GIVEN ON OVERSTAYERS
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THERE WERE 2 356 OVERSTAYERS DURING THE 12 MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 THIS YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR DAVID JEAFFRESON SAID, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI HE SAID THAT, OF THESE, ABOUT 1 620 HAVE BEEN REPATRIATED SO FAR. THERE WERE ONLY TWO CASES OF OVERSTAYERS BEING CONVICTED OF CRIMINAL OFFENCES, OTHER THAN IMMIGRATION OFFENCES, DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS.
ONE WAS CONVICTED OF WASTEFUL EMPLOYMENT OF POLICE RESOURCES AND THE OTHER FOR USING ANOTHER PERSON'S IDENTITY CARD, HE SAID.
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