XN000022-1976-04-07 — Page 44

Wednesday, April 7, 1976

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Mr. Robson discounted a suggestion by the Hon. T.S. Lo of legalising

red-plate public cars into taxis.

The forces wich caused public cars to act as illegal taxis obviously

demonstrated the public's need for more taxis. "But, in meeting this

requirement, I feel that we should still preserve the facility provided

by public cars whereby it is possible to pre-book chauffeur-driven

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passenger cars,' he said.

He went on to say that the Transport Advisory Committee had unde

a package of proposals regarding additional taxis, red-plate public cars;

taxis for outlying districts; and contract hire cars of a rather different

hue from the present public cars.

These proposals, he added, were under consideration by the Executive

Council and it would be presumptuous for him to elaborate further.

"Nevertheless, I hope to be in a position to do so, very soon."

Touching on the government programme of action against industrial

undertakings now existing in non-industrial buildings, Mr. Robson said the

problem was a complex one which would require ingenuity to solve.

"It will also require careful handling - and one thing is certain,

there will have to be full co-operation between the private sector and the

government. It is, however, too early to predict what the final solution will be."

He said stage I of the programme began on March 1 with action being

taken now against those dangerous and obnoxious undertakings operating in non-

industrial buildings, against any industrial undertakings operating in purely

residential buildings and against any such undertakings attempting to start

up in a new non-industrial building.

"It will, of course, be necessary to assess and take into account

the success of stage I when subsequent stages are being planned," he said.

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