TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1994
THE PROPOSED FARE RISE WILL ONLY INCREASE THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) MARGINALLY BY 0.01 PER CENT.
IN 1994
THEY NOTED HYF'S OPERATING COSTS INCREASED BY 10.4 PER CENT 1993, AND WERE PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY ANOTHER 10.8 PER CENT IN
INCREASE IN AND 23.3 PER CENT IN 1995, LARGELY OWING TO SUBSTANTIAL REPAIR
MAINTENANCE COSTS, REPROVISION OF PIERS AFFECTED RECLAMATION WORKS, AND LOSS IN DISPOSAL OF REDUNDANT VESSELS CESSATION AND RATIONALISATION OF SERVICES.
AND
BY DUE TO
NEVERTHELESS, THE COMPANY HAS TRIED ITS BEST TO ECONOMISE
ROUTE THROUGH
FROM RATIONALISATION AND TO RAISE MORE REVENUE
OTHER SOURCES SUCH AS RENTAL AND ADVERTISING.
PATRONAGE
OPERATION OF FERRY SERVICES HAS BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY DECLINING
DUE TO STRONG COMPETITION FROM OTHER MODES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, THE INCONVENIENCE CAUSED BY RELOCATION OF PIERS AS A
USE OF RECLAMATION AND MORE COMMUTERS RESORTING TO ROAD RESULT COMPLETION OF NEW INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
WITH
ALL THESE FACTORS PUT THE COMPANY IN A DIFFICULT
FINANCIAL
POSITION.
MAKING
EVEN WITH THE PROPOSED FARE INCREASE, HYF WOULD NOT BE ANY PROFIT THIS YEAR. THE INCREASE WILL ONLY SERVE TO REDUCE ITS EXPECTED OPERATING LOSS IN 1994.
UP AT TODAY'S MEETING, MEMBERS ALSO ENDORSED A PROPOSAL TO SET CROSS HARBOUR TAXI STANDS ON A TRIAL BASIS. THERE IS A DEMAND FOR SUCH FACILITY AS INDICATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF INFORMAL CROSS HARBOUR TAXI STANDS.
THEY AGREED THAT TAXIS ACCEPTING A HIRE AT THESE STANDS NOT CHARGE ANYTHING EXTRA ABOVE A SINGLE TOLL CHARGE OF $10 AND FARE, PLUS BAGGAGE SURCHARGES WHERE APPLICABLE.
COMMUTERS WHO HIRE A TAXI FROM A CROSS HARBOUR PAY $10 LESS THAN THE EXISTING $20 FOLL FOR
WILL JOURNEYS.
SHOULD MATER
SERVICE STAND HARBOUR CROSS
DURING THE TRIAL, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE POLICE AND THE TAXI TRADE, WILL MONITOR THE SITUATION CLOSELY AND ASSESS THE PRACTICABILITY OF THE SCHEME.
PUBLIC GOLF CENTRE PROPOSED IN KAU SAI CHAU
# #
*
THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO BUILD AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD PUBLIC GOLF CENTRE AT KAU SAI CHAU, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT WILL BK SUPERVISED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
FULLY FINANCED AND
/THE JOCKEY