CO129-543-12 Loans for public work 29-3-1933 - 20-12-1933 — Page 56

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE.-With regard to the question raised by the Senior Unofficial Member in connection with bus routes, generally speaking it may be said that on certain of the bus routes on both sides of the Harbour, the service is well. maintained, but on others it is bad. In Hong Kong, the service on the Lower Level routes, gives little cause for complaint, but on the hill routes, the constant breakdown of the buses makes it quite impossible to adhere to the fixed time schedule and complaints are

numerous.

In Kowloon, the same applies, some services are good, others, such as No. 6 Kowloon City to Star Ferry, are starved during busy hours, owing to the excessive number of buses under repairs in the Kowloon Motor Bus Co's. work shops. This points to unsatisfactory supervision and lack of work shop accommodation, staff and super- vision, which applies to both Licensees alike.

Representations have been made to the Licensees to improve matters, so as to do away with the two main complaints (1) failure to maintain proper time schedules, which in turn is due in many cases to (2) the breakdown of buses. The Hong Kong Licensee contemplates the purchase of new buses for the hill routes, in due course, as he is unable to maintain his existing equipment in sufficiently satisfactory condition to avoid breakdowns. However, although the new concessionaires for Hong Kong took over forty- one and those for Kowloon seventy-three of the drivers employed by the former holders there is no doubt that lack of experience on the part of the drivers contributes in some measure to the bad running on the hill routes and if the licensees do not in their own interests employ more satisfactory staff on these routes, steps will have to be taken to compel them to do so.

The New Territories service appears to he running reasonably well. The companies have recently applied for certain concessions for the more economical and possibly satisfactory running of the services, but it is proposed to make any deviations from the strict terms of the Contract dependent on improved services all round, in conformity with the terms of the Contract, and to the satisfaction of the general Public. Should these measures fail to bring about the required improvement, it will be necessary to have recourse to the penal clauses in the Contracts.

(Applause).

THE COLONIAL TREASURER.-Sir,-To assess floors separate- ly as proposed by the Honourable Member would treble the work of the Revenue Collection Branch of the Treasury and more than treble the work of the Assessor's Office as the extra supervision would be increased disproportionately. The large addition of staff required would be out of all proportion to the relief that owners of house property could obtain.

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