11
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1984
*
THE POINT THAT TAXIS WERE NOT ECONOMIC ROAD USERS WAS WELL KNOWN BUT THAT DID NOT FOLLOW THAT SWIFT AND DRASTIC
INCREASES WITHOUT WARNING HAD TO BE EFFECTED AT A STROKE OF THE PEN.
* TAXIS WERE DESCRIBED AS A FORM OF PERSONALISED' PUBLIC
TRANSPORT BUT THE FACT REMAINED THAT THEY WERE A FORM OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND SHOULD NOT BE DENIED IN TOTAL ANY PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT ACCORDED TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
*
ALTHOUGH A SUBSTANTIAL PERCENTAGE OF TAXI TRIPS WERE FOR SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, IT DID NOT IN ANY WAY ALTER THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT NATURE OF TAXIS.
THE PROPOSED INCREASES IN THE IR PRESENT FORM WERE EXCESSIVE AND INEQUITABLE AND THEREFORE UNACCEPTABLE.
HE SAID THAT JUDGED FROM WHAT WAS REPORTED IN THE MEDIA, PUBLIC OPINION WAS AGAINST THE NEW MEASURES.
+MY ADVICE TO THE ADMINISTRATION IS TO HEED PUBLIC OPINION, RE-ASSESS THE WHOLE SITUATION IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED, AND THEN COME BACK TO THIS COUNCIL WITH A MORE BALANCED AND EQUITABLE PROPOSAL AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME, HE SAID,
+I WILL BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT ANY REVISED MEASURES PROVIDED THEY ARE FAIR AND REASONABLE.+
HE PRAISED THE POLICE AND STRESSED THAT THE DISTURBANCES THAT ERUPTED ON FRIDAY EVENING MUST BE STRONGLY CONDEMNED AND THE CULPRITS SHOULD BE SEVERELY DEALT WITH ACCORDING TO LAW.
TAXI TAX AND REGISTRATION FEE INCREASES UNTIMELY
******
THE HON WONG LAM SAID WHILE HE AGREED THAT THE
GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE EFFECTIVE STEPS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN HONG KONG, HE WAS OF THE OPINION THAT ANY MEASURES ADOPTED HAD TO BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS WHEN HONG KONG WAS IN A STATE OF POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY AND ITS ECONOMY WAS ONLY JUST BEGINNING TO IMPROVE.
+CARE MUST BE TAKEN NOT TO GIVE TOO SERIOUS A BLOW TO THE PEOPLE IN EVERY TRADE AND EVERY STRATUM, HE STRESSED.
HE CONSIDERED THE DECISION TO INCREASE TAXI REGISTRATION TAX AND LICENCE FEES AS UNTIMELY.
+BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING OPERATING COST IN RECENT YEARS, TAXI OPERATORS ARE ALREADY HAVING CONFLICTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE QUESTION OF A FARE INCREASE.
/+THE INCREASE