THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1988
31
BILL TO ENFORCE BUS PASSENGER CONDUCT
A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR BETTER CONTROL FOR PASSENGER CONDUCT ON BUSES WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988 IS ALSO AIMED AT CORRECTING A MINOR ANOMALY IN THE FRANCHISED BUS PROFIT CONTROL SCHEME.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID THAT ENFORCEMENT EMERGED WHICH CONVINCED THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BUS BETTER CONTROL OF PASSENGER CONDUCT WAS NECESSARY.
SECRETARY FOR PROBLEMS HAD COMPANIES THAT
THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICES ORDINANCE PROVIDED FOR REGULATIONS BY-LAWS TO BE MADE TO REGULATE THE CONDUCT OF BUS PASSENGERS.
AND
IT INCLUDED POWER TO MAKE REGULATIONS TO AUTHORISE BUS COMPANY STAFF TO ENFORCE THE REGULATIONS BUT NOT THE BY-LAWS.
THE BILL PROPOSED TO GIVE AUTHORISED STAFF THE POWER TO ENFORCE THE BY-LAWS AS WELL, MR LEUNG SAID.
THIS POWER INCLUDED THE REMOVAL FROM BUSES, DEMANDING OF PROOF OF IDENTITY OR DETAINING OF OFFENDERS CONTRAVENING BOTH REGULATIONS AND BY-LAWS.
IT WAS SIMILAR ΤΟ THAT POWER IN OTHER TRANSPORT-RELATED LEGISLATION CONTROLLING PASSENGER CONDUCT.
THE BILL ALSO INTRODUCED A NEW PROVISION REQUIRING PASSENGERS TO COMPLY WITH REASONABLE DIRECTIONS GIVEN IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY BY AUTHORISED BUS STAFF.
"FOR EXAMPLE, A DRIVER MIGHT DIRECT PASSENGERS TO OPEN THE WINDOWS OF A BUS IN TYPHOON CONDITIONS TO REDUCE WIND RESISTANCE AND THEREBY LESSEN THE RISK OF A BUS BEING BLOWN OVER IN HIGH WINDS,' HE SAID.
...
"THE ESSENCE OF THIS PROVISION IS THAT A DIRECTIVE MUST BE BOTH REASONABLE AND IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE COURTS WOULD DETERMINE IN CASES OF DOUBT."
ON THE MINOR ANOMALY IN THE PROFIT CONTROL SCHEME TO BE CORRECTED BY THE BILL, MR LEUNG SAID THAT AT PRESENT BOTH THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY AND THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY WERE PERMITTED EACH TO DEPOSIT $2 MILLION WITH THE TREASURY,
IN LIEU OF A MOTOR INSURANCE POLICY AGAINST THIRD PARTY RISKS.
SUCH DEPOSITS WERE TREATED AS FIXED ASSETS IN THE PROFIT CONTROL SCHEME UNDER SECTION 26 OF THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICES ORDINANCE.
/HOWEVER, THE