XN000022-1975-11-04 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1975

LEGCO DEBATE:

OFFICIALS REPLY TOMORROW

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE RESUMES TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) WHEN SIX OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL REPLY TO POINTS RAISED BY THEIR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES TWO WEEKS AGO..

THE FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE DR. THE HON. K.LY THONG, ACTING DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, FOLLOWED BY THE HON. LI FOOK-KOW, SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES- THE HON. IAN LIGHTBODY, SECRETARY FOR HOUSING THE HON. IAN PRICE, COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR THE HON, KENNETH TOPLEY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SIX OTHER OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL SPEAK ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 6). THEY ARE: THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, SECRETARY FOR SECURITY= THE HON. DAVID JORDAN, DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY- THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT- THE HON. DENIS BRAY, SECRETARY FOR. HOME AFFAIRS- THE HON, JOHN HOBLEY. ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, SIR DENYS ROBERTS,

ON BOTH DAYS, THE PROCEEDINGS WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE BY RADIO HONG KONG ON RHK 2 (CHINESE) AND RHK 4 (ENGLISH).

DURING THE SITTING, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, WILL MOVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE STAR FERRY COMPANY'S ROYALTY PAYMENTS FOR THE YEARS 1974, 1975 AND 1976, AND TO INCREASE THE COMPANY'S FARES FROM DECEMBER 1, 1975.

THE PROPOSED FARE INCREASES WILL RAISE FIRST CLASS FARES FROM 25 CENTS TO 30 CENTS FOR ADULTS AND FROM 10 CENTS TO 20 CENTS FOR CHILDREN- AND SECOND CLASS FARES FROM 10 CENTS TO 15 CENTS. IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE SECOND CLASS FARE WILL BE FURTHER RAISED FROM 15 CENTS TO 20 CENTS ON JANUARY 1, 1977.

THE MOTION ALSO SEEKS TO REVISE THE COST OF STAR FERRY MONTHLY TICKETS FROM $10 TO $12 FOR ADULTS AND FROM $4 TO $6 FOR CHILDREN UNDER SIXTEEN, AS FROM DECEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.

MR. ROBSON WILL ALSO TABLE THE TRAMWAY (AMENDMENT) BILL, WHICH INTRODUCES A FLAT 30-CENT FARE FOR HONG KONG TRAMWAYS FROM DECEMBER 1, AND THE PEAK TRAMWAY (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH SEEKS TO REDUCE THE RATE OF PERMIT FEE PAYABLE BY THE PEAK TRAMWAY FOR THE YEARS 1974 AND 1975.

ALSO TO BE TABLED FOR FIRST READING ARE THE PENSIONS (INCREASE) BILL, THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES BILL, THE BANKING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL, AND THE INLAND REVENUE *(AMENDMENT) (NO. 6) BILL.

DEBATE WILL RESUME ON THE RAILWAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL, THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL, THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL, BILL, AND THE SUPREME COURT BILL.

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