THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1985
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ONCE A SOCIETY MEMBER HAS ACQUIRED LEGAL TITLE, HE WILL NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER FORMS OF CIVIL SERVICE HOUSING BENEFIT, EXCEPT FOR OPERATIONAL DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS.
+ALL THE AFFECTED SOCIETIES AND COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN A FEW MONTHS' TIME. THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS ARE MERELY A FACILITY. IT WOULD BE UP TO INDIVIDUAL SOCIETIES AND COMMITTEES TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WISH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
PRIVATE CAR INSPECTION SCHEME LAUNCHED
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THE PRIVATE CAR INSPECTION SCHEME, WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR, WILL PROMOTE ROAD SAFETY BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DEFECTIVE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR PETER LEEDS, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE MOTOR TRADERS ASSOCIATION TO ANNOUNCE THE SCHEME, MR LEEDS SAID IT HAD BEEN THE AIM OF THE GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME OF VEHICLE EXAMINATIONS AS A PREREQUISITE TO LICENSING TO ENSURE THAT VEHICLES ON THE ROADS ARE IN GOOD MECHANICAL CONDITIONS.
IN RESPECT OF PRIVATE CARS THE INITIAL AIM WAS TO HAVE ALL VEHICLES MORE THAN SIX YEARS OLD REGULARLY EXAMINED.
+ INITIALLY, THE SCHEME WILL BE APPLICABLE TO PRIVATE CARS MANUFACTURED BEFORE 1980. FOR THOSE VEHICLES, WHEN THEIR LICENCES EXPIRE ON ANY DATE AFTER MARCH 1986 IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE EXAMINED, TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF ROADWORTHINESS BEFORE THE LICENCE IS RENEWED ON ANY DATE AFTER JANUARY 2, 1986, + MR LEEDS SAID.
TO ENSURE BETTER USE OF INSPECTION FACILITIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE GOVERNMENT HAD SELECTED 17 PRIVATE GARAGES AS CAR TESTING CENTRES. LETTERS OF DESIGNATION FOR 15 OF THEM WERE ISSUED AND TWO OTHERS WOULD BE DESIGNATED LATER.
+ IF THE GOVERNMENT HAD HAD TO PROVIDE NEW CENTRES, IT WOULD HAVE TO COST ABOUT $15 MILLION WITH $2 MILLION ANNUAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE,+ HE SAID.
THE TESTING CENTRES ARE FULLY EQUIPPED TO CARRY OUT THE NECESSARY EXAMINATIONS FIVE OF THE 17 ARE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, SEVEN IN KOWLOON AND FIVE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
/THEY ALL