WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
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PLB LIMITATION EXTENDED
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) EXTENDED FOR TWO YEARS UNTIL APRIL 10, 1986, THE PERIOD DURING WHICH THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES WHICH MAY BE LICENSED AS PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, IS LIMITED.
MOVING THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 220), THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, SAID THE PERMISSIBLE NUMBER OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WOULD REMAIN AT 4 350 AS ORDERED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 8, 1980.
PROPOSAL QUESTIONED ON PRINCIPLE
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IT IS WRONG IN PRINCIPLE TO SAFEGUARD THE PROFITABILITY OF A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PUBLIC PURSE, PARTICULARLY AT A TIME WHEN GOVERNMENT IS BORROWING IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE ENDS MEET, THE HON S.L. CHEN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE PEAK TRAMWAY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, MR CHEN SAID: THE BILL SEEKS TO SET THE ANNUAL PERMIT FEE FOR THE YEAR AT $1 000 WHICH, BY COMPARISON, IS A VERY SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION FROM WHAT IS OTHERWISE PAYABLE BY THE PEAK TRAMWAY COMPANY, AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOLLS RECEIVED DURING 1983.+
HE NOTED THAT THE REASON FOR THIS AMENDMENT, AS GIVEN BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, WAS TO ENABLE THE COMPANY TO AVOID MAKING A LOSS ON ITS OPERATIONS+.
+SURELY THERE MUST BE OTHER WAYS TO AVOID MAKING A LOSS THOUGH THIS IS NOT A SUBJECT FOR THIS DEBATE, BUT I WOULD EXPECT THE COMPANY, BEFORE SEEKING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, TO ASK ITSELF WHETHER ITS OPERATIONS ARE EFFICIENT AND WHETHER THE FARES ARE SET AT THE RIGHT LEVEL,+ HE SAID.
WITH THE REDUCED PERMIT FEE, MR CHEN SAID, HE BELIEVED THE PEAK TRAMWAY COMPANY WOULD MAKE A MODEST PROFIT FOR THE YEAR.
+IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT DISCUSSIONS ARE IN PROGRESS WITH THE COMPANY, AS ADVISED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, TO ESTABLISH A NEW FORMULA WHICH WOULD AVOID FUTURE AD HOC REDUCTION OF THE ANNUAL PERMIT FEE, I AM PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS THE SIXTH AND THE LAST TIME FOR AN AD HOC REDUCTION, HE STRESSED.
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