XN000022-1973-11-29 — Page 13

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Thursday, November 29, 1973

However, Mr. Robson said if experience indicated that prosecution

was no real deterrent to overcharging by public light bus and taxi drivers,

"it will be necessary to consider more drastic measures such as administrative

powers to suspend the vehicle licence after a conviction for overcharging.

The Secretary for the Environment reiterated that a green paper

on transport was being prepared which would outline the government's

thinking on the overall transport policy for Hong Kong.

He pointed out that although the construction of the underground

railway was the "greatest single project which will transform our transport

patterns" it must be remembered that, on present indications, even when

it is built there will be a need for far more surface transport than exist now.

Fixed Penalties

"A very close watch will have to be kept on its planning and control

to ensure that good progress is not achieved at the expense of widespread

traffic congestion or disruption of utility companies' services - most of

which run under our roads.

Mr. Robson hoped that the recently formed Road Safety Council would

have an impact on the behaviour of both pedestrians and motorists, but their

efforts would need to be backed by tougher legislation. This should provide

fixed penalties for moving traffic offences such as jumping the lights, and

failing to give way at a pedestrian crossing.

Coupled with this scheme should be a driver demerit system which

could lead to a motorist having his licence suspended.

"These various methods," he said,

he said, "should be very effective in

making motorists more law-abiding and the road safer for all."

Turning to

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