WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1984
3
NEED FOR MODIFICATIONS AGREED
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THE ADMINISTRATION ACCEPTS THAT THE TAXI POLICY PACKAGE NEEDS MODIFICATIONS TO RENDER IT ACCEPTABLE AND TO PLACE THE TAXI IN ITS CORRECT PLACE IN THE TRANSPORT SCENE, SAID THE HỌN ALAN SCOTT, SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, ALTHOUGH IT BELIEVES THAT THE PACKAGE IS BASICALLY RIGHT IN ITS APPROACH.
MR SCOTT WAS SPEAK ING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHERE HE SAID THAT OFFICIAL MEMBERS WOULD NOT VOTE FOR THE TWO BILLS THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 AND THE ROAD TRAFFIC (REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984.
+ IT FOLLOWS, AS DR FANG AND MR PETER WONG AMONG OTHERS HAVE URGED THAT THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS IN AND RELATED TO THESE BILLS AS OUTLINED IN THEIR INTRODUCTION LAST WEEK AS AN INTERRELATED PACKAGE, SHOULD BE REEXAMINED. THEY WILL HAVE TO BE RESUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION AS A MATTER OF URGENCY- AND THIS WILL BE DONE. ALL CONCERNED SHOULD BE ASSURED THAT THE VIEWS WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED TODAY WILL BE INCLUDED IN THAT RESUBMISSION, SAID MR SCOTT.
HE SAID: THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES THAT THE POLICY PACKAGE IS BASICALLY RIGHT IN ITS APPROACH BUT OBVIOUSLY NEEDS SUITABLE MODIFICATIONS THAT WILL IN DUE COURSE RENDER IT ACCEPTABLE AND PLACE THE TAXI IN ITS CORRECT PLACE IN THE TRANSPORT SCENE, WHILE BEARING IN MIND THE NECESSITY TO SAFEGUARD THE REASONABLE LIVELIHOOD OF TAXI OPERATORS, AND TO ENSURE A STABLE, EFFICIENT AND FAIRLY PRICED INDUSTRY.+
EARLIER IN HIS SPEECH, MR SCOTT EXPLAINED THE NEED FOR THE USE OF TWO PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDERS LAST WEEK. THE EXISTING REGULATIONS FOR THE ISSUE OF LICENCES PROVIDE THAT UP TO FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE DUE DATE OF EXPIRY OF A CURRENT LICENCE IT MAY BE RENEWED FOR UP TO ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF EXPIRY.
ADDITIONALLY, ANY VEHICLE OWNER CAN CANCEL HIS LICENCE AT ANY TIME RECEIVE A PROPORTIONATE REFUND AND IMMEDIATELY TAKE OUT A NEW LICENCE FOR A FULL YEAR AT THE CURRENT RATE.
IF A REVENUE PROTECTION ORDER HAD NOT BEEN MADE VIRTUALLY ALL PRESENT LICENSED TAXI OWNERS WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE, IN GREATER OR LESSER DEGREE, AND ENTIRELY PROPERLY WITHIN THE REGULATIONS, TO RENEW THEIR LICENCES AT THE OLD RATES FOR UP TO A YEAR OR MORE, SUBSEQUENT TO THE EVENTUAL ENACTMENT OF THE LEGISLATION, AFTER DEBATE AND AMENDMENT, SAID MR SCOTT.
A SIMILAR ORDER WAS MADE WITH REGARD TO FIRST REGISTRATION TAX TO PREVENT NEW VEHICLES BEING BROUGHT FORWARD QUICKLY IN SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS FOR REGISTRATION AT THE OLD RATES.
*THE ADMINISTRATION COMPLETELY ACCEPTS THAT USING REVENUE PROTECTION ORDERS IN THIS INSTANCE HAS CAUSED ACUTE PRESENTATIONAL PROBLEMS, NOTWITHSTANDING THE VALID REASONS FOR SO DOING, HE SAID.
'MR SCOTT