XN000022-1975-06-04 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1975

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MR. WU, MR. DAVIES SAID POLICE HAD ALSO INCREASED THEIR COVERAGE OF TENEMENT BUILDINGS TO PREVENT TRIADS AND OTHERS FROM VICTIMISING TENANTS WISHING TO CARRY OUT ALTERATIONS AND DECORATIONS.

+AT THE SAME TIME, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AS A MATTER OF NORMAL PRACTICE INFORMS ITS INCOMING TENANTS OF THE FIXED PRICES FOR CERTAIN STANDARD ALTERATIONS ETC. AND OF THE NAME OF THE SELECTED CONTRACTORS SO THAT INDIVIDUAL TENANTS HAVE THIS INFORMATION.+

+THEY ARE ALSO ADVISED TO REPORT IF CONTRACTORS TRY TO CHARGE HIGHER PRICES FOR STANDARD WORK, HE SAID.

MR. DAVIES ADDED: +IN THE LONG RUN, THE CONTINUING POLICE PRESSURE, THE WORK OF THE ICAC TOGETHER WITH A GROWING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND DESIRE TO RESIST THE ACTIVITIES OF TRIADS AND STRONG-ARM GROUPS SHOULD INCREASE THE EFFECT OF THE IMPACT ON THIS LONGSTANDING PROBLEM.❖

TAXI SERVICE FOR NEW TERRITORIES PLANNED

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THE NEW TERRITORIES MAY SOON HAVE ITS OWN TAXI SERVICE.

THIS WAS INDICATED TODAY IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAK,

DETAILS OF A SCHEME WERE NOW BEING WORKED OUT, HE SAID, AND WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NECESSARY LEGAL CHANGES TO PERMIT THE ISSUE OF NEW TERRITORIES TAXI LICENCES.

MR. ROBSON SAID THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD ALREADY CONSIDERED OUTLINE PROPOSALS FOR SUCH A SCHEME ON MAY 1 AND HAD ADVISED IN PRINCIPLE THAT THE LICENCES SHOULD BE ISSUED.

HE RECALLED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD FOR SOME TIME CONSIDERED THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A SERVICE FOR THOSE RURAL AREAS WHICH PRESENT TAXIS DO NOT NOW PENETRATE.

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