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Public Bus Service Ordinance
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in moving the resolution under section 5(3)(b) of the Public Bus Services Ordinance (Cap. 230): New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I move the resolution standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Governor in Council has granted a new franchise to the New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited (NLB) to operate a public bus service with seven routes on Lantau Island for two years from 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1997.
This franchise will not be subject to a Profit Control Scheme and it is therefore necessary to disapply those sections of the Public Bus Services Ordinance governing the permitted return under the profit control scheme, but retain those sections which enable the Government to specify depreciation rates in respect of franchise related assets and require the company to produce accounts and other information needed for the monitoring of their performance. The resolution before Honourable Members seeks to give effect to these arrangements.
A special Subcommittee of this Council comprising the Hon Lee Wing-tat, the Hon Albert Chan and the Hon Andrew Wong met on 17 January 1995 to examine this resolution. I understand the Subcommittee has given its support.
Mr President, with these remarks, I move the resolution.
End/Wednesday, January 25, 1995