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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1984
+ IT WAS, AND IT REMAINS, THE JUDGEMENT OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL THAT IT WAS THE SPEED WITH WHICH THEY REACHED THEIR AGREED POSITION ON THESE BILLS, AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT ANNOUNCEMENT TO THIS EFFECT, WHICH DEFUSED A DANGEROUS SITUATION, HE STRESSED.
+A DANGEROUS SITUATION, I MIGHT ADD, WHICH THREATENED THE VERY STABILITY WE ALL RECOGNISE ÀS HAVING SUCH SPECIAL IMPORTANCE AT THIS TIME,
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE POLICE FORCE WHO REACTED WITH SUCH COMPETENCE AND PROFESSIONAL ISM TO EVENTS WHICH TOOK MOST OF US BY SURPRISE+.
BILLS SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN AND TAXI FARE INCREASE FROZEN
***
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER WITHDRAWING THE TWO BILLS AND FREEZING THE INCREASE IN TAXI FARES, PENDING A REVIEW OF THE TAXI POLICY AND EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS, SAID THE HON ANDREW SO.
HE SAID THE SUBJECTS OF TODAY'S DEBATE WERE INOPPORTUNE.
+THE WIDE RANGES OF THE INCREASES HAVE PROVOKED RESENTMENT, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO HONG KONG'S CONSISTENT POLICY OF CARING FOR THE PEOPLE AND TRYING ITS BEST TO MAINTAIN STABILITY.+
MR SO ALSO NOTED THERE WAS A TIME GAP IN THE INCREASE OF 17 PER CENT IN TAXI FARES AND THE INCREASE IN LICENCE FEES.
HE SAID THAT SUCH A FEINT WAS UNFAIR.
0
LONG-TERM, GRADUAL TAXI MEASURES PROPOSED
***
THE CALL FOR GRADUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF A LONG-TERM TAXI POLICY WAS MADE BY THE HON F.K. HU, IN SPEAKING ON THE TWO BILLS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE PROPOSALS NOW CONTAINED IN THE TWO BILLS WERE BOTH ABRUPT AND DRASTIC, MR HU ADDED.
OPPOSING THE BILLS, MR HU SAID THAT THE ROLE OF TAXIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF OVERALL TRANSPORT POLICY.
TAXIS, HE SAID, WERE +A LUXURIOUS MODE OF TRANSPORT+ CONVENIENT TO THE USER WILLING TO PAY FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SUCH CONVENIENCE. THE FARES, HE SAID, SHOULD BRING REASONABLE RETURN TO THE TAXI OWNERS AND DRIVERS WHOSE INVESTMENT AND EFFORT MUST BE SUITABLY REWARDED.
/+TAXIS ARE