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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1986
THE 1987-1991 ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CONTAINS A TOTAL OF 429 ITEMS, INCLUDING INTRODUCTION OF 61 NEW ROUTES, 201 ITEMS RELATED TO FREQUENCY IMPROVEMENTS AND 93 ITEMS RELATED TO CONVERSION TO HIGHER CAPACITY BUSES.
MEMBERS WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY HAD, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, MOD IF IED ITS ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME TO COMPLY WITH GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTIMATING FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS CONTINUING TO DISCUSS THE ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WITH THE BUS COMPANY IN THE LIGHT OF THE COMMENTS FROM DISTRICT BOARD TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEES AND PROPOSALS BY OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS.
MEMBERS HAD RAISED QUESTIONS ON THE FLEET SIZE, THE PROJECTED RIDERSHIP AND POPULATION GROWTH, THE NEED FOR EXTRA DEPOTS AND THE JUSTIFICATION ON PROJECTED CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
A SECOND MEETING WILL BE HELD FOR SCRUTINISING THE ANSWERS RECEIVED BEFORE A VIEWPOINT ON THE OVERALL PLAN CAN BE REACHED.
AT THE MEETING TODAY, MEMBERS ALSO CONSIDERED A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE PARKING METER CHARGES IN AREAS WHERE UTILISATION WAS HEAVIEST.
THE NEED TO KEEP FEES AND CHARGES UP TO DATE WAS OUTLINED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR WHEN HE NOTED THAT: +A FRESH LOOK WILL BE TAKEN AT PARK ING METER CHARGES, WHICH HAVE BEEN UNCHANGED SINCE 1981.+
MEMBERS ALSO EXAMINED A PROPOSAL FOR A SURCHARGE ON LANTAU TAXI FARES DURING SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
FREE LEGAL SCHEME HANDLES 1 500 CASES *****
THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME, ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND THE LAW SOCIETY HANDLED MORE THAN 1 500 CASES DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
ASSISTANCE WAS REQUESTED BY MORE THAN 12 000 PEOPLE, AND 1 517 WERE REFERRED TO DUTY LAWYERS UNDER THE SCHEME.
/+THE MAJORITY