XN000022-1974-05-24 — Page 10

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1974

PROPOSALS FOR STANDARDISATION OF FLB FARES

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REPRESENTATIVES OF MINI-CUS ASSOCIATIONS WERE TODAY HANDED DETAILS OF PROPOSED REGULATIONS ON THE STANDARDISATION OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FARES AT A MEETING WITH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.

THE QUESTION OF THE STANDARDIZATION OF FARES WAS FIRST RAISED WITH THE ASSOCIATIONS ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND AGAIN AT ANOTHER MEETING EARLIER THIS YEAR. AT THE TIME, THE ASSOCIATIONS AGREED IN PRINCIFLE WITH THE GOVERNMENT PLAN.

UNDER THE SCHEME, ROUTES ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OF HONG KONG ISLAND WOULD HAVE A MAXIMUM STANDARD FARE OF 50 CENTS WHILE THE STANDARD MAXIKON FIRE FOR A JOURNEY ELSEVIERE ON THE ISLAND COULD LE $1.

IN KOWLOON AND THE NEU TORNITORIES A MAXIMUM STANDARD FARE WOULD ALSO BE LAID DOUN IN THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS. FOR A JOURNEY WITHIN KOWLOON AND NEW KOWLOON IT WOULD BE 50 CENTS AND WITHIN THE NEW TERRITORIES $1.50.

A MAXIMUM STANDARD FARE OF $2 WOULD BE SET FOR ANY JOURNEY COMMENCING IN KOWLOON AND ENDING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES OR VICE VERSA, AND ALSO FOR A JOURNEY THROUGH THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL.

THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS ALSO HAVE PROVISION FOR MAXIMUM SPECIAL FARES WHICH COULD BE CHARGED DURING SPECIFIED PERIODS SUCH AS AT PEAK HOURS, ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND DURING TYPHOONS. THESE WOULD ALLOW FOR A FARE UP TO TWICE THE MAXIMUM STANDARD FARE TO BE CHARGED.

NO DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE PROPOSED STANDARDISATION OF FARES AND ANOTHER MEETING WILL BE HELD WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AT WHICH THE PROPOSAL WILL BE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL AND THE VIEWS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE EXPRESSED.

AT TODAY'S MEETING, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF TRANSPORT OFFICER FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT, IR. PETER MILLER, ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO MAKE THE SECTION OF SHAU KEI WAN ROAD FROM THE TAIKOO DOCKS TO KAN WAH STREET AN URBAN CLEARWAY TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOU AND PREVENT THE SITUATION FROM DETERIORATING.

HOWEVER, ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR MINI-BUSES WERE SUGGESTED INCLUDING THE SETTING UP OF TWO PLB STANDS IN SAI WAN HO STREET.

MR. MILLER AGREED TO HOLD A SITE MEETING WITH PLB REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED SCHEME AND TO TRY TO WORK OUT THE FINAL DETAILS. HE INDICATED THAT THE CLEARWAY WOULD NOT BE INTRODUCED UNTIL AT LEAST AUGUST OR EVEN LATER.

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ALSO AGREED WITH A SUGGESTION THAT A PLB STAND SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN SHU KUK STREET IN NORTH POINT. THIS STAND IS EXPECTED TO BE IN OPERATION WITHIN A MONTH OR SO.

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