XN000022-1972-07-19 — Page 8

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Wednesday, July 19, 1972

GOVERNMENT URGED TO IMPLEMENT BILL WITHOUT DELAY

The amending bill empowering the Commissioner for Transport to auction

selected vehicle registration numbers will be welcomed by many private car

owners who fancy good and prestigious numbers.

Speaking during the resumed debate on the Road Traffic (Amendment)

Bill 1972 in the Legislative Council, the Hon. Szeto Wai explained that such

numbers are usually acquired as "status symbols" for expensive or prestigious

cars.

He pointed out that while there is open trading of good car registration

numbers, it is "ostrich-like not to recognise the possibility or the existence

of irregular practice."

Mr. Szeto agreed with the Financial Secretary that by bringing the

sale of these coveted numbers within the ambit of the law, the Transport

Department will be rid of "a continuing source of embarassment."

At the same time, by turning over the proceeds of the auction to

charitable purposes, the present bill will have "the double merit of public

acceptability and of jacking up the auction price," Mr. Szeto said,

He urged the Government to implement the provisions of the bill without

further delay and pointed out that it was first considered by the Transport

Advisory Committee more than 2 years ago.

The delay has already robbed charity of "a very substantial sum" of

money in the course of the two and a half years, he said.

/Speaking