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The company was planning to buy eight vessels, including six new triple decks and two catamarans, to improve services to the outlying islands and the new towns.
HYF would continue to operate most of its low-patronage and loss-making routes until 1999 when good alternative public transport becomes available following the opening of the Western Harbour Crossing and Route-3 (Tsing Yi Section) in 1997.
Members were also briefed on the progress in 1994 of the Transport Department's Performance Pledge Scheme.
They noted that the scheme has been closely monitored since it was introduced in 1992, and the results of opinion and waiting time surveys indicated that the pledged waiting times have not been exceeded and the public were generally satisfied with the services provided.
End/Tuesday, December 13, 1994
Sex Discrimination Bill an important milestone
The introduction of the Sex Discrimination Bill will be an important milestone in the social development of Hong Kong, and will represent a major step towards maintaining an environment of fair and free competition.
Speaking at a joint luncheon meeting of the Lion's Club today (Tuesday), the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, said the Government believed that the bill would cater for the needs of Hong Kong, raise public awareness of the issue of discrimination and ensure that people in Hong Kong can enjoy a high degree of legal protection in respect of equal opportunities between the sexes, so that Hong Kong could compare favourably with other advanced countries.
Mr Suen pointed out that with the changes in demographic structure, economy and social norms in the past decades, the status of women in Hong Kong had been rising steadily.
"In recent years, we are seeing more and more women holding key positions in our society and successfully striking a balance between their family commitments and their needs in career development.