SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1984
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+THIS WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE TERRITORY, AND TO ITS ROLE AS AN ENTREPOT.+
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ASSURED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC LIVING NEARBY THAT MEASURES WOULD BE TAKEN TO MINIMISE NOISE AND DUST NUISANCES.
IN ADDITION, THERE WOULD BE AN OPEN SPACE BUFFER TO THE SOUTH AND WEST OF MEI FOO SUN CHUEN.
FORMAL AND INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS WOULD BE HELD WITH THE AFFECTED RESIDENTS AT DISTRICT BOARD AND LAI WAN AREA COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
EXCO ENDORSES LANTAU VEHICLE REPORT
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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD ENDORSED THE REPORT OF A WORKING GROUP SET UP TO REVIEW THE POLICY OF LIMITING THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES ON LANTAU.
IN JUNE 1973 THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT CLOSED ALL ROADS ON LANTAU AND SINCE THEN, ANYONE WISHING TO DRIVE A MOTOR VEHICLE ON THE ISLAND HAS HAD TO OBTAIN A CLOSED ROAD PERMIT.
PERMANENT PERMITS ARE ISSUED ONLY TO FULL-TIME RESIDENTS OR PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS WHILE TEMPORARY PERMITS ARE ISSUED MAINLY TO CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES CARRYING OUT BUILDING WORK ON THE ISLAND.
THE WORKING GROUP ADVISED THAT IT WAS STILL NECESSARY TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES THROUGH A SYSTEM OF CLOSED ROAD PERMITS. OTHERWISE, ANY MAJOR, UNCONTROLLED INCREASE IN VEHICLE NUMBERS WOULD CONGEST CERTAIN AREAS, AGGRAVATE THE PRESSURE ON PARKING FACILITIES AND DETRACT FROM THE QUIET COUNTRYSIDE AND RECREATIONAL ROLE OF THE ISLAND.
HOWEVER, A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING SYSTEM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF ABUSES. IN FUTURE, THE RESPONSBILITY FOR PRODUCING PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY WILL REST WITH THE APPLICANT WHO WILL NEED TO POSSESS A VALID DRIVING LICENCE IN ADDITION TO BEING A FULL-TIME RESIDENT OR PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER.
A PERMIT HOLDER'S CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY WILL BE CHECKED BEFORE A PERMIT IS RENEWED.
TO ENSURE THAT THE ROAD NETWORK IS NOT OVERLOADED, A CEILING OF ABOUT 10 PER CENT WILL BE IMPOSED ON THE NUMBER OF NEW PERMITS
ISSUED EACH YEAR.
THE WORKING