TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1984
12
OPEN SELECTION FOR MAXICAB SERVICE
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THE SELECTION OF OPERATORS FOR ANY NEW MAXICAB SERVICE IS BY OPEN SELECTION, AND ALL EXISTING PLB OPERATORS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THIS TODAY IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE SELECTION OF MAXICAB OPERATORS.
IN SUBMITTING THE IR APPLICATIONS, PLB OPERATORS MUST GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE IR EXPERIENCE IN THE PLB AND MAXICAB TRADE, THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES THEY CAN APPLY, AND THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION.
THESE APPLICATIONS ARE FIRST VETTED BY TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT STAFF AND ASSESSED ON A POINTS SYSTEM. THOSE OBTAINING HIGHER POINTS ARE THEN INVITED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE MAXICAB SELECTION BOARD.
THE BOARD IS CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT AND HAS AS MEMBERS, AN UNOFFICIAL OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ICAC, CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, TRANSPORT BRANCH AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IN MAKING ITS FINAL DECISION, THE BOARD TAKES ALL FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT THE BOARD HAS TO BEAR IN MIND IS WHETHER THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT WILL BE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING A DEPENDABLE AND ADEQUATE SERVICE TO THE LOCAL RESIDENTS, HE POINTED OUT.
THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE BOARD ARE FAIR AND HAVE THE OVERALL PUBLIC INTEREST IN MIND.
JUNE WEATHER 'RATHER NORMAL'
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JUNE'S RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE WERE RATHER NORMAL + THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY REPORTS.
HOWEVER, THE CUMULATIVE RAINFALL FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR OF 1 148.7 MM, WAS STILL ABOUT 16 PER CENT MORE THAN AVERAGE, AND THE MONTHLY MEAN ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OF 1 004.3 MILLIBARS WAS THE SEVENTH LOWEST ON RECORD FOR JUNE.
THERE WERE ISOLATED SHOWERS ON JUNE 1 AND A FEW THUNDERY SHOWERS ON JUNE 2.
SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS, WITH GUSTS REACHING 50 KNOTS AND 39 KNOTS AT TSIM BEI TSUI AND CHEUNG CHAU RESPECTIVELY, OCCURRED IN THE AFTERNOON ON JUNE 3.
/UNSETTLED WEATHER