WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1994
AND
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF AUDIO RECORDING TRANSCRIPT PRODUCTION SERVICES IN COURTS WOULD NOT ONLY SAVE THE JUDGES' TIME IN TAKING LONGHAND NOTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND PROOFREADING THE TYPED NOTES, IT WOULD ALSO EFFECTIVELY CUT DOWN THE COURT HEARING TIME.
"AS A RESULT, THE WAITING TIME FOR TRIALS WILL BE SHORTENED CORRESPONDINGLY, " HE SAID.
"IF THE PILOT SCHEME PROVES SUCCESSFUL, THE SYSTEM WILL BE EXTENDED TO THE DISTRICT COURT ACROSS THE BOARD AND IN THE LONGER TERM, AND RESOURCES PERMITTING, THIS WILL BE EXTENDED ΤΟ THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS AND OTHER TRIBUNALS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE CONTRACT SIGNED TODAY IS FOR A 12-MONTH SERVICE FOR THE PROVISION OF AUDIO RECORDING AND TRANSCRIPT PRODUCTION SERVICE ON A PILOT BASIS IN EIGHT COURTS IN THE DISTRICT COURT. THE SERVICE IS EXPECTED TO COME INTO OPERATION IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR.
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DISABLED BENEFIT FROM TAXI CERTIFICATE SCHEME
*
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT REMINDS DISABLED PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN APPLY FOR CERTIFICATES TO BOARD AND ALIGHT TAXIS IN RESTRICTED ZONES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TO IMPROVE THE MOBILITY OF THE DISABLED, THE POLICE HAD AGREED TO EXERCISE DISCRETION TO ALLOW TAXI DRIVERS TO PICK UP OR SET DOWN DISABLED PASSENGERS IN RESTRICTED ZONES, EXCEPT EXPRESSWAYS AND 24-HOUR RESTRICTED ZONES, PROVIDED THAT NO HAZARDS OR MAJOR DISRUPTIONS WERE CAUSED TO OTHER ROAD USERS.
AS A RESULT, A TRIAL SCHEME WHEREBY A CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED BY THE DISABLED TAXI PASSENGER TO A TAXI DRIVER WHEN BOARDING OR ALIGHTING IN RESTRICTED ZONES HAS BEEN INTRODUCED SINCE DECEMBER LAST YEAR.
ABOUT 2,500 PASSENGERS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE SCHEME.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE TRIAL SCHEME IS TO ENCOURAGE TAXI DRIVERS TO CARRY DISABLED PEOPLE AND TO ALLAY THEIR FEAR OF BEING PROSECUTED WHEN PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN DISABLED PASSENGERS IN RESTRICTED ZONES.
WHEN A DISABLED PASSENGER NEEDS TO BOARD OR ALIGHT IN A RESTRICTED ZONE, HE SHOULD WRITE DOWN HIS NAME, TIME, DATE, PICKING UP/SETTING DOWN PLACE AND THE REGISTRATION NUMBER OF THE TAXI ON THE CERTIFICATE AND ISSUES IT TO THE TAXI DRIVER.
THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CERTIFICATES ARE WHEELCHAIR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE AND USERS OF WALKING AIDS, FOR CRUTCHES AND ARTIFICIAL LEGS.
THE CERTIFICATE IS NON-TRANSFERABLE AND SHOULD BE USED DISABLED PERSON TO WHOM IT HAS BEEN ISSUED.
MAY
USERS, EXAMPLE,
BY
THE
ELIGIBLE PEOPLE
APPROACH ABOUT 40 DESIGNATED MEMBER ORGANISATIONS OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE FOR THE CERTIFICATES. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE BY TELEPHONING 866 8123.
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