XN000022-1974-01-30 — Page 22

20

Wednesday, January 30, 197).

WRITTEN TESTS FOR TAXI DRIVERS SPEEDED UP

Processing of written tests for taxis and public cars have

..

been stepped up this year to a maximum of 300 each day, with a waiting

time of three weeks.

The Secretary for the Environment, the Hon. James Robson, told

Legislative Council today that there were 12,180 candidates on the

waiting list for the test at the end of 1973.

However, special arrangements have been made for drivers of

Kowloon Motor Bus and China Motor Bus so that they can take their road

tests immediately without delay, he added.

He was replying to a question from the Hon. James Wu as to the

number of outstanding cases for driving tests for each category of road

vehicles and the waiting time involved.

In regard to the written test for driving licences for private

cars or motor-cycles, Mr. Robson said there were 55,260 candidates –

12,600 on Hong Kong Island and 42,660 in Kowloon and waiting time varied

from seven months to one year.

For their road tests, candidates have to wait from three to eight

months. At the end of last year, there was a total of over 49,000

candidates waiting to take the test for either private cars or motor-cycles.

There was a total of 10,200 candidates waiting to take the road

1,890 on Hong Kong Island and 8,310 in Kowloon.

test for light buses

Waiting times were 20 months and 43 months respectively.

For the road test for goods vehicles weighing two tons and above,

there were 1,060 candidates on Hong Kong Island (waiting time eleven months)

and 6,870 in Kowloon (waiting time 34 months).

/21

=

.