16.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1987
BUS OPERATORS CAN CO-EXIST: UMELCO
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UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE OF THE VIEW THAT BOTH FRANCHISED AND PRIVATE OMNIBUS OPERATORS COULD CO-EXIST SATISFACTORILY AND PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, HON MARIA TAM SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC OMNIBUS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SHE SAID MEMBERS OF THE LEGCO COMMUNITY SERVICES WORKING GROUP HAD COME TO THIS VIEW AFTER EXAMINING THE BILL, TOGETHER WITH THE REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED ON IT.
+THE FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR FEAR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE PRIVATE BUS OPERATORS ON RESIDENTIAL ROUTES AND MULTIPLE TRANSPORT SERVICES WILL INFRINGE ON THEIR MOST PROFITABLE ROUTES, SHE SAID.
THE WORKING GROUP HAD THEREFORE EXAMINED THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE GRANTING OF LICENCES TO THESE TWO TYPES OF SERVICES, AND HAD CONCLUDED THAT THE EXISTENCE OF THESE SERVICES WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDED THAT SUFFICIENT CARE WAS TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE PRIVATE OPERATORS DID NOT CONTRAVENE THE CONDITIONS OF THE LICENCE, SHE SAID.
MISS TAM ADDED THAT THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT HAD AGREED TO SPEAK ON THE LICENSING CONDITIONS FOR THE RESIDENTIAL AND MULTIPLE TRANSPORT SERVICES AND WOULD MOVE SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
+1 AND MY UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES ARE IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THESE AMENDMENTS AS THEY PROVIDE A FAIR BALANCE BETWEEN THE INTERESTS OF THE TWO FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES AND THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, SHE SAID.
THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT THANKED MISS TAM FOR HER REMARKS, AND OTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE IR COMMUNITY SERVICES WORKING GROUP, FOR THE METICULOUS ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE BILL.
HE SAID THAT CLAUSE 5(C) OF THE BILL PROVIDING FOR RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICES HAD EVOKED CONCERN FROM THE TWO MAJOR BUS COMPANIES, IN THAT THE RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICES MIGHT BE AN INFRINGEMENT OF THE IR FRANCHISES.
+THESE RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICES ARE INTENDED TO COMPLEMENT, NOT TO COMPETE WITH, THE FRANCHISED SERVICES. APPROVAL IS SUBJECT TO STRICT CONDITIONS TO AVOID INFRINGEMENT ON EXISTING FRANCHISES.
+THE SCHEME WAS IN FACT FULLY DISCUSSED AND AGREED WITH THE TWO FRANCHISED BUS OPERATORS BEFORE ITS INTRODUCTION
IN 1982.
/+BEFORE LICENSING