WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1984
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HE ALSO REFERRED TO SOME UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS' CONCERN ABOUT THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY'S COMPUTER SYSTEM AND ITS INABILITY TO HANDLE DIFFERENT TAX RATES FOR DIFFERENT PERIODS OF THE DAY, OR DIFFERENT TAX RATES FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES.
+HOWEVER, THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO CATER FOR THE COMPANY'S TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR WHICH IT REMAINS ADEQUATE.
+ IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE TO ASK THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY TO AMEND THE SYSTEM SOLELY FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S PURPOSE, + MR YUE EXPLAINED.
HE ADDED THAT NONETHELESS, IF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS TO BE REPLACED OR UPDATED FOR OTHER REASONS, HE WOULD DISCUSS WITH THE COMPANY HOW THE REVISED SYSTEM COULD TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S NEEDS.
ON THE NEED FOR A SECOND FIXED HARBOUR CROSSING MENTIONED BY MR WONG LAM, MR YUE POINTED OUT THAT HE HAD EXPLAINED EARLIER THAT THE STEERING GROUP WOULD SUBMIT A FINAL REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BY SEPTEMBER.
TWO UNOFFICIALS SPEAK AGAINST TUNNEL TAX BILL
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TWO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, REV THE HON PATRICK MCGOVERN AND THE HON WONG LAM, SPOKE AGAINST THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL (PASSAGE TAX) BILL 1984 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
FR MCGOVERN SAID THERE WAS A SIGN OF A POLICY U TURN ON THE SELF-MADE RULE ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR DECADES THAT VEHICLE AND OTHER TRANSPORT-RELATED TAXES SHOULD GO INTO GENERAL REVENUE, AND NOT BE EARMARKED FOR ROADS AND OTHER TRANSPOR RELATED EXPENDITURE.
HE SAID, THIS GENERATION OF MOTORISTS HAS ALREADY PAID FOR THE EXISTING CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL. IT CONTINUES TO PAY GENEROUSLY INTO THE POCKETS OF THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS, WHO HAVE LONG SINCE GOT BACK THEIR ORIGINAL INVESTMENT, WITH A HANDSOME PROF IT.
+WHAT THIS BILL PROPOSES IS THAT THIS SAME GENERATION OF MOTOR ISTS SHOULD NOW START PAYING FOR THE NEXT HARBOUR CROSSING.
+THEY WILL THUS BE PAYING FOR BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, ONE OF WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR, AND THE OTHER OF WHICH DOES NOT YET EXIST, AND INDEED MAY NEVER COME INTO EXISTENCE IF THE PRESENT CONFIDENCE CRISIS CONTINUES.+
FR MCGOVERN STATED THAT ONE OF THE WORST ASPECTS OF THE BILL WAS THE UNCONVINCING ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE IT UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT.
ON TRAFFIC