XN000022-1976-05-12 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1976

LICENSING SYSTEM FOR CYCLISTS TO BE CONSIDERED

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL CLOSELY MONITOR CYCLE ACCIDENTS OVER THE MONTHS AHEAD AND THEN CONSIDER THE USEFULNESS OF SETTING UP A LICENSING SYSTEM FOR EITHER CYCLISTS OR BICYCLES OR BOTH, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON SAID TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. ROGER LOBO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. ROBSON SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, DID NOT CONSIDER IT NECESSARY, AT THE PRESENT MOMENT TO REGISTER OR LICENSE CYCLISTS, OR TO INTRODUCE OTHER CONTROLS TO PREVENT AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING BICYCLES.

WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF CYCLISTS INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT A LICENSING SYSTEM WOULD ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING OFFENDERS, HE SAID THESE ACCIDENTS SEEMED TO BE CAUSED MAINLY BY THE LATTER'S INEXPERIENCE RATHER THAN THEIR DISREGARD FOR THE LAW.

THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM, HE ADDED, WAS TO INCREASE THE EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION TO CYCLISTS BY THE POLICE, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION.

EFFECT OF AIRCRAFT NOISE ON SCHOOLS

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON, KENNETH TOPLEY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT AIRCRAFT NOISE OVER KOWLOON CITY DID NOT SERIOUSLY INTERFERE WITH TUITION IN SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER WILLIAMS ON THE EFFECT OF SUCH NOISE ON SCHOOLS, MR. TOPLEY SAID THERE WERE 57 SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE AIRCRAFT NOISE DID DISTURB TUITION.

HOWEVER, HE SAID THE MATTER WAS CONSIDERED IN SOME DETAIL BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION LAST YEAR AND IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT THE DURATION OF DISTURBANCE FROM FLIGHT-PATH NOISE WAS ABOUT 18 MINUTES PER DAY, MOST OF THIS IN THE AFTERNOON,

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