XN000022-1975-11-02 — Page 1

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K 香港政府 GIS 新聞處

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1975

TAC CLEARS WAY FOR ADVERTISING IN TAXIS, PLB'S

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THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ALLOW ADVERTISING INSIDE TAXIS, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND FRANCHISED BUSES.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT THIS FORM OF ADVERTISING WILL BRING A REGULAR SOURCE OF ADDITIONAL INCOME TO THE OPERATORS ALTHOUGH IT WILL NOT GENERATE EXTRA REVENUE FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

FOLLOWING THE TAC'S APPROVAL, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS TO DRAW UP DETAILS OF CRITERIA AND SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ABUSES FOR THE THREE MODES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO DISPLAY ADVERTISEMENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLES.

AT A MEETING LAST WEEK, THE TAC CONSIDERED THAT, IN THE CASE OF FRANCHISED BUSES, THE ADDITIONAL INCOME EARNED WOULD HELP TO DEFER FARE INCREASES.

WHETHER THE PUBLIC GENERALLY WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE EXTRA SOURCE OF INCOME FOR TAXIS WOULD DEPEND ON WHETHER THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE EARNED WOULD DELAY AN APPLICATION FOR REVISED FARES FROM TAXI OPERATORS.

IN THE CASE OF PLBS, IT WOULD DEPEND ON WETHER THE EXTRA INCOME EARNED WOULD ACTUALLY LEAD TO REDUCED FARES ALTHOUGH THIS SEEMS UNLIKELY AS FARES TENDS TO DEPEND ON SUPPLY AND DEMAND RATHER THAN THE INCOME OF OPERATORS.

+ON THE OTHER HAND, THE PUBLIC CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE, THE TAC FELT.

UNDER PRESENT LEGISLATION, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT ALREADY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE ADVERTISING IN TAXIS, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND FRANCHISED BUSES.

AS A SAFEGUARD AGAINST ABUSES, IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE ADVERTISEMENTS TO BE CARRIED INSIDE THE VEHICLES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.

A BROAD CRITERIA LAYING DOWN THE TYPE OF UNDESIRABLE ADVERTISEMENTS, WHICH ARE BASICALLY CONTRARY TO THE LAW, COULD BE ISSUED FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE OPERATORS.

CONSIDERATION COULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO THE DESIRABILITY OF INTRODUCING NEW REGULATIONS WHICH WOULD SPECIFICALLY LAY DOWN THE CONDITIONS OF ADVERTISING IN PUBLIC VEHICLES.

/ANOTHER

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Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tal: 5-233191

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