WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 190T
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REASONS FOR NOT PAYING FULL TAXI PREMIA EXPLAINED
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ASCERTAIN THE REASONS FOR SOME SUCCESSFUL TENDERERS IN A RECENT TAXI LICENCE TENDER EXERCISE NOT TO SETTLE PAYMENT OF THE FULL PREMIA AS THE DECISION WAS MADE BY THE TENDERERS THEMSELVES, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON CONRAD LAM, MR LEUNG SAID THAT ONE POSSIBLE REASON COULD BE THE DECLINE IN MARKET PRICE OF TAXI LICENCES SOON AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS OF THE LAST TENDER EXERCISE.
"ANOTHER REASON COULD BE THE PRELIMINARY VIEWS EXPRESSED BY SOME DISTRICT BOARDS IN RECENT MONTHS ON A TAXI POLICY CONSULTATIVE PAPER FROM A SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH TOUCHED UPON METHODS TO MINIMISE SPECULATION
IN THE ISSUE OF TAXI LICENCES, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF RESTRICTING THEIR TRANSFERS.
"IT WOULD APPEAR THAT SOMR PEOPLE SAW THESE VIEWS A3 A CONSTRAINT ON THE MARKET VALUE OF TAXI LICENCES," MR LEUNG SAID.
IN THE RECENT TAXI TENDER EXERCISE FOR 100 LICENCES WHICH CLOSED ON JULY 17 THIS YEAR, 394 TENDERS FOR 513 LICENCES WERE RECEIVED. ACCEPTED TENDERS FOR THE 100 LICENCES RANGED FROM $596,000 TO $608,700 FOR EACH LICENCE.
HOWEVER, AFTER THE RESULTS OF THE EXERCISE WERE NOTIFIED ΤΟ TENDERERS ON AUGUST 28, SIX SUCCESSFUL TENDERERS FOR 68 LICENCES DID NOT SETTLE PAYMENT OF FULL PREMIA WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD OF 14 DAYS, MR LEUNG SAID.
WAYS SOUGHT TO SIMPLIFY TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME
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THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING AT WAYS TO SIMPLIFY THE PILOT TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME FOR THE DISABLED TO ENCOURAGE MORE TAXI DRIVERS ΤΟ TAKE PART, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PAULINE NG, MR BRIDGE SAID IF THESE PROVED IMPRACTICABLE, OTHER WAYS OF ENCOURAGING THE INTEGRATION OF THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED INTO SOCIETY WOULD BE CONSIDERED.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE PILOT TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF IDEAS BEING EXPLORED TO HELP THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED INTEGRATE BETTER INTO THE COMMUNITY.
"ITS PURPOSE
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