XN000022-1975-08-13 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1975

LEGAL CHANGE PAVES WAY FOR REGULAR HOVERFERRY SERVICES

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A MOTION ENABLING THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY TO OPERATE HOVERFERRIES AS WELL AS CONVENTIONAL FERRIES ON ANY ROUTE.

THE MOTION AMENDED THE FARES AND CHARGES SCHEDULE OF THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY (SERVICES) ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR A FLAT FARE OF UP 10 $2 PER PERSON FOR ACROSS-THE HANDOUR HOVERFERRY SERVICES, AND $5 PER PERSON FOR HOVERFERRY SERVICES TO OUTLYING AREAS.

IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, TOLD COUNGEL THAT THE AMENDMENT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY ENDORSED BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMANTIEE.

HE NOTED THAT THE FOUR HOVERFERRIES OPERATED ON A TRIAL BASIS BETWEEN CENTRAL AND TSUEN VAN LAST DELENDEK HAD PROVED VERY POPULAR WITH COMMUTERS, DESPITE THE HIGHER FAKES, AS HOVELELKRIES PROVIDED A MORE COMFORTÄDLE AND FASTER SERVICE.

WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE MOTION, HE ADDED, THE COMPANY INTENDE) TO OFFER THE PULLIC A CHOICE OF EITHER A LOVENFERRY OR A CONVENTIONAL FERRY ON SELECTED ROUTES, SULJECT 10 DEMAID AND AVAILABILITY OF SUFFICIENT CRAFT.

UNDER THE MOTION, THE FIRST AND THIRD CLASS FARES FOR CERTAIN FERRY SERVICES WERE DELETED AND SULSTITUTED WITH ONE-CLASS FAKES.

ALSO DELETED VAS ALL REFERENCE TO THE HILMER STREET-A£ERDEEN- CHEUNG CHAU FERRY PIER SERVICE AND THE WILMEN STILET FERRY PIER- ALERDEEN TAI O SERVICE WHICH VEKE, SUSPENDED IN 1959 ALD 1970, RESPECTIVELY.

THESE TWO SERVICES WERE ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED TO CARRY FISH TO ABERDEEN FOR THE URBAN MARKETS, AND WEKE OPERATED UNDER A SUBSIDY FROM THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION.

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