9
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1985
+SECTION 9 OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE ENABLES THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS TO MAKE PROVISIONAL PAYMENTS OF COMPENSATION
PENDING THE DETERMINATION BY THE LANDS TRIBUNAL OF DISPUTE CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION IN RESPECT OF ANY ACQUISITION OF LAND, REQUIRED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES THAT IS OR MAY BE HELD UNDER A POSSESSORY TITLE BY VIRTUE OF THE LIMITATION ORDINANCE.
+CLAUSE 2 OF THE BILL AMENDS THE SECTION TO ENABLE THE DIRECTOR TO PAY INTEREST ON SUCH PAYMENTS, CALCULATED HAVING REGARD TO THE LOWEST RATE PAYABLE FROM TIME TO TIME BY MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS ON TIME DEPOSITS, HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE THREE BILLS WAS ADJOURNED.
NEED FOR REGULAR CHECKS ON PRIVATE CARS STRESSED
*****
THE OBJECT OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 WAS TO ALLOW PRIVATE GARAGES TO CARRY OUT ANNUAL INSPECTIONS ON THE ROADWORTHINESS OF OLDER PRIVATE CARS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON IAN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID REGULAR VEHICLE EXAMINATIONS WERE NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACCIDENTS, AS IN 1984 MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE IDENTIFIED AS A CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR IN ALMOST 2 000 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS CAUSING INJURY, AMOUNTING TO 12 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS IN THE YEAR.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL MR MACPHERSON SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE IN RESPECT OF PRIVATE CARS WAS TO EXAMINE ANNUALLY ALL VEHICLES OVER SIX YEARS OLD.
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, HE SAID, OPERATED FOUR VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRES AND THESE WERE FULLY COMMITTED TO THE INSPECTION OF ALL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES AND OLDER GOODS VEHICLES.
+THERE WERE PLANS TO CONSTRUCT FOUR MORE CENTRES, BUT SINCE THESE WERE REQUIRED FOR THE EXPANDING FLEET OF PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES AND ALL GOODS VEHICLES, THERE WAS NO PROSPECT OF THE DEPARTMENT EXAMINING PRIVATE CARS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE,+
USING THE PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR SIX- YEAR-OLD CARS TO BE EXAMINED ANNUALLY, AND WOULD OBVIATE THE NEED FOR NEW VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRES IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR ALREADY PLANNED, HE SAID.
MR MACPHERSON SAID THAT CAR TESTING CENTRES WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH A CODE OF PRACTICE, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ORDINANCE AND ANY CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE DESIGNATION NOTICE.
/THE CODE