WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1984
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DISABLED DRIVERS EXEMPTED FROM TUNNEL TAX
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DR THE HON HARRY FANG TODAY MOVED AN AMENDMENT TO THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL (PASSAGE TAX) BILL 1984 IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE TO EXEMPT DISABLED DRIVERS FROM PAYMENT OF THE PASSAGE TAX.
DR FANG EXPLAINED THAT THIS AMENDMENT WILL ALLOW A DISABLED DRIVER TO APPLY TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT FOR THE EXEMPTION.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE HIGHLIGHTED +ONCE AGAIN THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR WHOM THE BENEFITS OF OUR SOCIETY ARE NOT ALWAYS AS READILY ACCESSIBLE AS THEY ARE TO THE ABLE-BODIED.+
+ AM GRATEFUL THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONTINUED TO PURSUE AN ENLIGHTENED POLICY IN TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF LIFE'S OPPORTUNITIES, HE SAID.
DR FANG SAID THAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAD RECEIVED REPRESENTATIONS FROM CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS ON WHAT THEY CONSIDERED AS UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE DISABLED WHO WERE UNABLE TO TAKE THE OPTION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
+THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AGREED WITH US AND IN ADDITION TO AGREEING TO THE AMENDMENT FOR DISABLED DRIVERS HAS ALSO PROVIDED AN ASSURANCE THAT THE REHABUS SERVICE WILL BE SAFEGUARDED FROM INCREASED COSTS OF OPERATION THROUGH ADDITIONAL SUBVENTIONS.
+THIS IS MOST WELCOME AS IT WILL ENSURE THAT THOSE WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY OF OWNING THEIR OWN CARS WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY INCREASED FARES ON THE REHABUS TO TRAVEL TO WORK OR TO HOSPITALS AND CLINICS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT, DR FANG SAID.
IN HIS SPEECH THE HON S.L. CHEN SAID HE BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IF THE TAX WERE ONLY APPLIED DURING PEAK HOURS.
HE SAID SUCH A FLEXIBLE SCHEME WOULD SPREAD THE LOAD ON THE TUNNEL, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE PEAK HOURS, RATHER THAN PRICING THEM OUT OF THE TUNNEL COMPLETELY.
+THIS WOULD ALSO OBVIATE THE NEED FOR ANY REFUND TO THE TUNNEL COMPANY AND WOULD GENERALLY HELP TO EVEN OUT THE PEAKS AND TROUGH OF ROAD USAGE WHICH ARE A CONSTANT FEATURE OF OUR TRAFFIC PATTERN, HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT'S EARLIER STATEMENT ON THE INADEQUACY OF THE TUNNEL COMPANY'S COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR THE PEAK HOUR SCHEME, MR CHEN SAID, IN A PLACE LIKE HONG KONG WHERE THE MOST SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE, SUCH INADEQUACY SEEMS SINGULARLY OUT OF PLACE.+
/HE ALSO
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