WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1984
22
LEGCO MUST ENSURE FAIRNESS OF BILLS
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THE HON MRS RITA FAN SAID THAT THE INCREASES PROPOSED IN THE TWO BILLS SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
WHILE SUPPORTING THE OBSERVATION OF THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG ON THE DIFFICULTY OF A FOOL-PROOF TRANSPORT POLICY, SHE SAID, +HOWEVER, IT IS THE DUTY OF THIS COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT BILLS PASSED ARE FAIR AND EQUITABLE, AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.+
SHE NOTED THAT THE TAXI TRADE ESPECIALLY THE TAXI DRIVERS, HAD SEEN THE BILLS AS A DIRECT THREAT TO THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
+ THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN FIRST REGISTRATION TAX, ANNUAL LICENCE FEES AND DIESEL ENGINE SURCHARGE ARE INDEED STEEP, AND THE SYMPATHY OF THE COMMUNITY IS LARGELY TOWARDS THE TAXI TRADE ON THIS OCCASION.
+WHILE THE FIGURES QUOTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT LENT SOME GROUNDS OF SUPPORT TO THE PROPOSED PACKAGE OF MEASURES, THE QUESTION REMAINS WHETHER SUCH A LEVEL OF INCREASES, IMPLEMENTED AT ONE STROKE, IS INDEED TOO HEAVY A BURDEN FOR THE TAXI TRADE,+ SHE SAID.
MRS FAN ALSO QUERIED THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE TIMING OF THE PROPOSED INCREASES.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE BILLS WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST WEDNESDAY AND WOULD HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE FROM THAT DATE IF APPROVED.
+THIS MEANS THAT A NUMBER OF TAXI OWNERS WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE PROPOSED ANNUAL LICENCE FEE AND DIESEL ENGINE SURCHARGE AT THE END OF THE LUNAR YEAR.
+AROUND THIS PERIOD, THE MAJORITY, IF NOT ALL, OF CHINESE FAMILIES INCUR ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL CUSTOM.
+ANY LARGE AMOUNT OF CASH OUTLAY WHICH IS NOT BUDGETED FOR DURING THE YEAR CAN CAUSE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY, SHE SAID.
+THERE IS, THEREFORE, GRAVE DOUBT IN MY MIND AS TO THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE TIMING OF THE PROPOSED INCREASES.+
SHE EXPRESSED REGRET THAT THE TAXI TRADE HAD REACTED WITH A STRIKE.
+WHILE THEIR SENTIMENTS AND GRIEVANCES ARE UNDERSTANDABLE, AND HAVE MY SYMPATHY, I NEVERTHELESS REGRET THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN SUCH A DRASTIC METHOD TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS.
+I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE APPROPRIATE AND FAR MORE RATIONAL METHODS THAT CAN BE ADOPTED TO ACHIEVE THE SAME AIM. WITHOUT DISTURBING OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, SHE STRESSED.
+THE TAXI SERVICE FULFILS A COMMUNITY NEED, BUT IF TAXIS ARE PERCEIVED AS INSTRUMENTS FOR BLOCKING TRAFFIC, PUBLIC SUPPORT AND SYMPATHY IS BOUND TO DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY, SHE WARNED.