WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1984
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+FROM THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED TO US, IT IS EVIDENT THAT MANY TAXI OPERATORS ARE EITHER MAKING SMALL LOSSES OR JUST BREAKING EVEN AND SEVERAL TAXI FIRMS HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. THE IR PROF IT AS WELL AS TAXI DRIVERS' INCOME HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED, HE SAID.
THERE WOULD THUS BE GENUINE HARDSHIP IF THE PROPOSED SHARP AND SUDDEN INCREASES WERE TO BE INTRODUCED AT THIS TIME, HOWEVER JUSTIFIED AS A TRANSPORT OBJECTIVE, MR POON STRESSED.
BADLY HANDLED INCIDENT COULD PRECIPITATE CRISIS
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AN INCIDENT, IF BADLY HANDLED, MIGHT LEAD TO A SOCIAL CRISIS AND GIVE PEOPLE AN UNEASY FEELING, THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE RECENT STRIKES OF THE TAXI MEN AND THE STREET DISTURBANCES WERE CITED BY MR YEUNG AS EXAMPLES FROM WHICH THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT DRAW LESSONS.
MR YEUNG CONCURRED WITH THE GROUNDS OF OBJECTION RAISED BY OTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO THE TWO BILLS.
HE THEN RAISED THE FOLLOWING POINTS FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSIDERATION
* THE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED THE 'PROTECTION OF REVENUE ORDER'
IN AN EXTRA ISSUE OF THE GAZETTE TO INCREASE FEES OF TAXIS, WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. THE TERM + IMMEDIATE EFFECT+ WAS ENOUGH TO PROVOKE ANXIETY AND RESENTMENT FROM THE PEOPLE.
*
BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED ANYTHING, IT SHOULD CAREFULLY AND REPEATEDLY CONSIDER WHETHER THE PROPOSAL WAS ENDOWED WITH REASONS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PUBLIC, IN PARTICULAR IF THE PROPOSAL WOULD AFFECT THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THE PEOPLE CONCERNED.
* GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SHOULD REVIEW THE REASONS FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND TAKE APPROPRIATE AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO COUNTER THEM. IT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD THAT ONLY TRUE DATA PLUS CORRECT ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT COULD HELP AVOID
REPETITION OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS.
HE ALSO SAID THE POLICE DESERVED TO BE PRAISED FOR THEIR APPROPRIATE ACTION IN HANDLING THE STRIKES AND FOR THEIR STRONG AND EFFECTIVE METHODS IN DEALING WITH THE DISTURBANCES.
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