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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1993
TAC DISCUSSES FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR BUS COMPANIES
THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) TODAY (TUESDAY) ENDORSED PROPOSALS TO MAKE FRANCHISED BUS OPERATORS MORE RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC DEMAND FOR BETTER AND MORE EFFICIENT SERVICES.
THE PROPOSALS SEEK TO INTRODUCE AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICES ORDINANCE TO ENABLE THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO IMPOSE FINANCIAL PENALTIES ON A ROUTE-BY-ROUTE BASIS UPON THE FAILURE OF A FRANCHISED OPERATOR TO COMPLY WITH THE ORDINANCE, THE CONDITIONS OF THE FRANCHISE OR ANY GOVERNMENT DIRECTIONS OR REQUIREMENTS.
THE PROPOSALS ALSO SEEK TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT ANY SUCH PENALTIES, IF IMPOSED, CANNOT BE PASSED ON TO BUS PASSENGERS IN THE FORM OF HIGHER FARES.
SUCH
FINANCIAL PENALTIES ARE PROVIDED FOR IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE. THE EXISTING PENALTY IS $10,000 FOR THE FIRST OCCASION, $20,000 FOR THE SECOND OCCASION AND $50,000 FOR THE THIRD AND SUBSEQUENT OCCASIONS REGARDLESS OF THE EXTENT OF SUCH DEFICIENCIES.
MEMBERS WERE INFORMED THAT THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENT ΤΟ DEAL WITH SERVICE DEFICIENCIES WORKED EFFECTIVELY AND IN MOST CASES, THE OPERATORS CONCERNED WERE ABLE TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO RECTIFY ANY DEFICIENCY.
NEVERTHELESS, IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT THE PROPOSAL TO IMPOSE PENALTIES IN PROPORTION TO THE EXTENT OF THE DEFICIENCIES WOULD BE A FAIRER APPROACH AND AT THE SAME TIME WOULD GIVE THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE TOOL TO DEAL WITH SERIOUS SERVICE DEFICIENCIES OR AN UNCO-OPERATIVE FRANCHISEE IN FUTURE.
IF TAC'S RECOMMENDATION WAS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE AN AMENDMENT BILL WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE WITHIN THE 1993/94 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
COUNCIL, COUNCIL
AT TODAY'S MEETING THE 1992/93 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT (TCU) WAS TABLED FOR MEMBERS' INFORMATION.
DURING THE YEAR, THE UNIT HANDLED A TOTAL OF 10,583 COMPLAINTS, AN INCREASE OF 19.7 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
LEUNG
COMMENTING ON THE REPORT, THE TAC CHAIRMAN, PROFESSOR CHI-KEUNG, SAID: "THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IS ATTRIBUTABLE MAINLY TO GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS OF TCU'S ROLE IN DEALING WITH TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS AND DEMAND FOR BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES.
"MEMBERS HAVE ALSO ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE THAT THE COMPLAINTS WOULD BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-UP ACTION TAKEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE," PROFESSOR LEUNG SAID.
MEMBERS ALSO WELCOMED A PROPOSAL TO PUT UP METAL PLATES LISTING TCU'S COMPLAINT HOTLINE AT MAJOR TAXI STANDS, RAILWAY STATIONS, FERRY CONCOURSES AND OTHER TERMINI.
AS REGARDS COMPLAINTS AGAINST TAXIS, MEMBERS HAVE ASKED THE POLICE TO CONTINUE THEIR ACTION AGAINST SUCH MALPRACTICES ON A REGULAR BASIS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A DETERRENT EFFECT.
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