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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1980-
ON THE QUESTION OF FARES AND QUALITY OF SERVICE, MR LAI ACCEPTED THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION'S SUBMISSION THAT SINCE IT WAS A NON-PROFIT-MAKING CROWN CORPORATION WITH PUBLIC INTEREST AT HEART, FARES AND SERVICES WOULD BE SET AT A REASONABLE LEVEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOWER-INCOME TRAVELLERS. +SINCE THERE WILL NOT BE A CHEAPER MODE OF INTERNAL TRANSPORT, AT LEAST FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, LOWER-INCOME TRAVELLERS WILL NO DOUBT BE AFFECTED.
+AND IT IS THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO CAN ILL AFFORD ANY ADDITIONAL CHARGES, WHO ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE COMFORT FOR SAVING, THAT WILL BE HARD HIT, MR LAI SAID.
+ IN THIS RESPECT, I URGE THE GOVERNMENT OR THE KCRC TO LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF DEVISING SOME KIND OF SUBSIDY SCHEME TO COMPENSATE FOR THE EXTRA FINANCIAL BURDEN IMPOSED ON THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE.+
REFERRING TO SUPERVISION OF THE OPERATION OF THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT) SYSTEM, MR LAI BELIEVED THAT SUFFICIENT MONITORING APPARATUS WOULD BE SET UP. BUT HE EMPHASISED THAT EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND RESIDENTS SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ADJUSTMENT OF FARE LEVELS.
MR LAI SAID THAT OVERALL HE SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF A LRT SYSTEM OPERATING IN THE TUEN MUN-YUEN LONG AREA, AND HE WAS PARTICULARLY HEARTENED THAT MEMBERS HAD BEEN ABLE TO PROCURE A 20-YEAR TIME LIMIT ON THE TSA.
+I THINK THIS PROVISION DID MUCH TO ALLAY THE PUBLIC'S FEAR OF A MONOPOLY GRANTED INDEF INITELY TO THE KCRC, HE SAID.
SPENT CONVICTIONS: MOVE TO ASSIST EMIGRANTS
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IN AN ATTEMPT TO ASSIST THOSE WITH A SPENT CONVICTION WHO ARE REQUIRED TO REVEAL THEIR RECORD TO AN OVERSEAS AUTHORITY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AT PRESENT EXPLORING WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE THE POSSIBILITY OF INCORPORATING IN THE POLICE LETTER WHICH INDICATES AN EMIGRANT'S RECORD A STATEMENT TO THE EFFECT THAT +THIS CONVICTION IS REGARDED AS SPENT IN HONG KONG BY VIRTUE OF SECTION 2(1) OF THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ORDINANCE+.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS BILL 1986.
/+THIS WOULD