THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1984
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DISTRICT BOARDS HELP SHAPE TRANSPORT POLICY
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• DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE MUCH INFLUENCE OVER THE WAYS TRANSPORT POLICIES AND MEASURES ARE IMPLEMENTED IN HONG KONG, MR JAMES SO, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, SAID TODAY (FEBRUARY 23).
ADDRESSING THE Y'S MEN'S CLUB OF HONG KONG ON +TRANSPORT ADMINISTRATION+, MR SO SAID THAT DISTRICT BOARDS WERE ALSO CONSULTED ON NEW POLICY PROPOSALS, AND COULD CHALLENGE THE APPROPRIATENESS OF EXISTING POLICIES AND REQUEST CHANGES.
HE STRESSED THAT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WAS ORGANISED ON A REGIONAL BASIS TO ENABLE IT TO RESPOND MORE QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY TO DEMAND FOR TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENT AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.
+SENIOR OFFICERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT SIT ON ALL 18 DISTRICT BOARDS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEES,+ MR SO SAID.
+THROUGH THESE FORUMS, DISTRICT NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS ON TRANSPORT MATTERS ARE BEING FED BACK THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT TO THE TRANSPORT BRANCH, THUS HELPING TO INFLUENCE AND SHAPE POLICY FORMULATION BY THE BRANCH.+
THIS ENABLES THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS OF THE MAN-IN-THE-STREET TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN NEW POLICY MEASURES ARE CONSIDERED, HE ADDED.
MR SO SAID THAT I STRICT BOARDS ARE ONE OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCES TO WHICH THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANSPORT POLICIES AND MEASURES IN HONG KONG ARE SUBJECT. ANOTHER BODY WHICH SERVES AS A CHECK IS THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. CHAIRED BY AN UNOFFICIAL WITH NINE OTHER APPOINTED UNOFFICIALS AND SIX OFFICIAL MEMBERS, WHICH ADVISES THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL ON ALL MAJOR ISSUES OF TRANSPORT POLICY.
THE TRANSPORT TRIBUNAL TOO HAS POWERS TO REVIEW THE DECISIONS
IT OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT ON MOST LICENSING MATTERS. IS CHAIRED BY AN UNOFFICIAL APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND HAS TWO OTHER MEMBERS, ONE OFFICIAL AND ONE UNOFFICIAL, SITTING WITH HIM.
MR SO ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE PROCESS AND MECHANISM BY WHICH TRANSPORT POLICY PROPOSAL IS FORMULATED BY THE TRANSPORT BRANCH FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL. HE EXPLAINED THAT AFTER A DECISION IS TAKEN, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING THE POLICY.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THE TRANSPORT BRANCH, IN FORMULATING TRANSPORT POLICY. WORKS WITHIN BROAD GUIDELINES LAID DOWN IN THE WHITE PAPER ON INTERNAL TRANSPORT POLICY, +KEEPING HONG KONG MOVING+. APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL IN 1979, THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF SUCH POLICY IS TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE MOBILITY OF BOTH PEOPLE AND GOODS THROUGH AN INTEGRATED, MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM, HE ADDED.
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