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Motions on traffic congestion and bus services passed

The Legislative Council today (Wednesday) passed a motion put forward by the Hon Mrs Miriam Lau urging the Government to fully consider the public views expressed on the "Report of the Working Party on Measures to Address Traffic Congestion" and to adopt such measures that are both fair and effective to solve the traffic congestion problem in Hong Kong.

The Council also debated a motion tabled by the Hon Wong Wai-yin urging the Government to freeze the bus fares of the Kowloon Motor Bus Company at the present level; and to revoke the China Motor Bus Company's franchise upon its expiry in August this year and open all bus routes on Hong Kong Island for open tender.

The motion was passed with amendments by Mrs Miriam Lau to the effect that the Government was being urged to keep the KMB fare increase at a reasonable level and to open some of the CMB routes for open tender.

The Council passed a motion moved by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, to approve the Code of Practice for the questioning of persons and the production of material under the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Five bills were introduced into the Council for first and second readings. They were the Supreme Court (Amendment) Bill 1995, Builders' Lifts and Tower Working Platforms (Safety) Bill, the Merchant Shipping (Liner Conferences) Bill, the Nuclear Material (Liability for Carriage) Bill and Insurance Companies (Amendment) Bill 1995. Debates on them were adjourned.

Debates were resumed on the Exchange Fund (Amendment) Bill 1994, the Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 1994, the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill 1994 and the Shipping and Port Control (Amendment) Bill 1994. All four bills passed the Committee Stage and were given a third reading. Among them, the Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 1994 was passed with amendments.

The Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Joseph Wong, presented to the Council the Regional Council estimates of revenue and expenditure for the year ending March 31, 1996.

The Hon Peter Wong addressed the Council on the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the report of the Director of Audit on the accounts of the Hong Kong Government for the year ended March 31, 1994 and the results of value for money audits (January 1995 - PAC report No.23).

Members asked 20 questions, six of which called for oral answers from the Administration.

End/Wednesday, February 15, 1995

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