XN000022-1973-07-20 — Page 4

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Friday, July 20, 1973

The ultimate object, he said, must be to inspect all vehicles to

make sure they are roadworthy, "but we cannot do more until we get a proper large inspection centre, with all the necessary equipment and staff."

He added: "After one year of persistent endeavour, an item for a

new inspection centre has not even got into the Public Works Programme and I despair of getting anywhere on this."

The Commissioner emphasised that, coupled with adequate vehicle

inspection facilities, must be legal powers

presently lacking

▬▬

for

suspending the licence of a vehicle found unroadworthy.

"You would hardly believe it but there are no powers to stop a vehicle from driving away if it is found with no brakes, broken suspension, bald tyres and no lights," he told the Rotarians.

Turning to pollution caused by cars, Mr. Wilson said measures were still being worked out whereby new petrol-driven vehicles would have to conform to a manufacturing standard designed to prevent the emission of excessive exhaust fumes,

As for the existing 200,000 vehicles in Hong Kong, there was a proposal for making it an offence for a vehicle to produce exhaust fumes beyond the legal limit on smoke measuring equipment.

There was also a forward programme for the progressive installation of parking meters in places where on-road parking was acceptable and demand exceeded supply.

"The aim is to ration these parking places fairly by means of a meter fee that ensures a turnover of short term parkers and avoids frustrated motorists circling round when they just want to stop for a short while," he said.

/Another