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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1986
MEMBERS ALSO NOTED THE PROGRESS AND CERTAIN CHANGES WHICH HAD BEEN MADE TO THE PROPOSED MANDATORY OFF-STREET TRAINING FOR LEARNER MOTORCYCLE RIDERS.
THE AIM OF THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO ENSURE THAT ALL LEARNER RIDERS HAD BEEN TAUGHT BASIC HANDLING SKILLS BEFORE RIDING ON THE ROADS IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT AN IMPROVEMENT IN MOTORCYCLE DRIVING STANDARDS AND A REDUCTION IN ACCIDENTS INVOLVING LEARNER RIDERS,
MEMBERS NOTED THAT THE TENDER FOR THE OFF-STREET TRAINING CENTRE IN SHA TIN, WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE THE TRAINING FACILITIES TOGETHER WITH THE EXISTING CENTRE AT WONG CHUK HANG, WAS AWARDED TO THE HONG KONG SCHOOL OF MOTORING IN APRIL THIS YEAR AND THE CENTRE SHOULD OPEN AT THE BEGINNING OF 1987.
IT WAS PROPOSED THAT AN APPLICANT FOR A LEARNER'S LICENCE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A CERTIFICATE CONFIRMING THAT HE HAD COMPLETED A COURSE IN OFF-STREET TRAINING.
THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR HARNAM GREWAL, ALSO BRIEFED MEMBERS OF THE BUS ACCIDENT IN TUEN MUN ON NOVEMBER 5 IN WHICH FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND OVER 60 WERE INJURED.
MR GREWAL SUMMARISED THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT MEASURES IN PROMOTING BUS SAFETY AND THE FOLLOW-UP ACTION WHICH HAD BEEN TAKEN SINCE THE ACCIDENT.
HE SAID THAT AS FAR AS WELFARE ASSISTANCE WAS CONCERNED, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD CONTACTED THE VICTIMS, WHETHER AT HOME OR IN HOSPITAL, AND THEIR FAMILIES.
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UNDER THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME APPLICATIONS HAD SO FAR BEEN RECEIVED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. OF THESE, 29 HAD RECEIVED PAYMENTS TOTALLING OVER $75 000 AND THE OTHER TWO WERE BEING PROCESSED,
IN ADDITION, THERE WERE 17 CASES IN WHICH ASSISTANCE WAS BEING PROVIDED UNDER CHARITABLE TRUSTS AND FUNDS. THIS AMOUNTED TO OVER $17 000.
MR GREWAL SAID THE POLICE INVESTIGATION WAS CONTINUING AND ON ITS COMPLETION A REPORT WOULD BE PREPARED AND SUBMITTED TO THE CORONER WHO WOULD DECIDE WHETHER AN INQUEST SHOULD BE HELD.
13.