21
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1986
HE SAID THAT IN ORDER TO SAFEGUARD THE RETURNS AND INTERESTS OF RAIL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS, THE GOVERNMENT HAD PROHIBITED OTHER MEANS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT FROM DIRECT COMPETITION WITH THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY AND THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM.
+THERE IS NOTHING MUCH TO BE CRITICISED ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT GIVING DUE ASSISTANCE AND CARE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THREE RAILWAY SYSTEMS.
+ BUT IF SUCH CARE IS OVERDONE BY IMPOSING TOO MUCH RESTRICTIONS ON OTHER MEANS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, IT WOULD NOT ONLY CONTRAVENE THE PRINCIPLES OF A FREE ECONOMY, BUT WOULD ALSO HAMPER FAIR AND HEALTHY COMPETITION WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR MAINTAINING OR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES, HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, MR POON SAID THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAD REJECTED, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING THE PAST YEAR, REQUESTS BY DISTRICT BOARDS FOR THE ARRANGEMENT OF EXPRESS BUS SERVICE FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES TO URBAN AREAS.
HE SAID HE FELT THIS WAS CONTRARY TO THE OBJECTIVE OF ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO MAKE MORE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND
IMPROVE THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
HE SAID SUCH A SUPPRESSIVE POLICY WOULD RESULT IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMPANIES LOSING CONFIDENCE AND INTEREST IN RE-INVESTMENT AND WOULD ALSO DEPRIVE COMMUTERS OF THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE A MORE DIRECT, MORE CONVENIENT AND CHEAPER FORM OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
IN VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, MR POON URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO FORMULATE SOME GUIDELINES TO MONITOR AND ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG COULD ENJOY ADEQUATELY PROVIDED AND INEXPENSIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES.
TURNING TO THE USE OF CHINESE IN OFFICIAL BUSINESS, MR POON SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REINFORCE THE TRAINING OF CIVIL SERVANTS TO IMPROVE THEIR STANDARD OF WRITING IN CHINESE.
HE SUGGESTED THAT CIVIL SERVANTS WITH A GOOD COMMAND OF CHINESE SHOULD BE DEPLOYED TO ATTEND MEETINGS OF DISTRICT BOARDS OR OTHER COMMITTEES WHENEVER POSSIBLE SO AS TO MINIMISE THE ARRANGING FOR THE SERVICE OF INTERPRETERS WHEN AN EXPATRIATE OFFICER WAS PRESENT.
AS FOR THE LOCALISATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR POON SAID THAT THE PROCESS SHOULD NOT BE TOO ABRUPT.
/HOWEVER, HE