XN000022-1976-06-04 — Page 7

FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1976

- 6

THE VEHICLE SUBMITTED FOR LICENSING AS A NEW TERRITOR IES TAXI WILL HAVE TO BE A SALOON CAR AND WILL HAVE TO PASS A TEST OF ROADWORTHINESS ON INSPECTION BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.

THE PROPOSED ANNUAL LICENCE FEE FOR N.T. TAXIS WILL BE $500. ALL N.T. TAXIS WILL HAVE TO BE PAINTED IN SPECIFIED COLOURS TO BE NOTIFIED TO APPLICANTS LATER.

AMENDMENTS TO TELEPHONE ORDINANCE

***** *.

A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS ARE TO BE MADE TO THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO SOME OF THE MORE PRESSING DECISIONS ARISING FROM THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY.

THE AMENDMENTS WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN THE TELEPHONE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 ARE :

* TO REDUCE THE INSTALLATION CHARGE FROM $400 TO $250 WITH

RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT FROM MARCH 1, 1975,

*

TO REDUCE THE REMOVAL CHARGE FROM $350 TO $250 WITH RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT FROM MARCH 1, 1975,

* TO PROVIDE THAT ALL CHARGES NOT STIPULATED IN THE SCHEDULE

TO THE TELEPHONE ORDINANCE SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO PRIOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE, POSTMASTER GENERAL AND THE TELEPHONE COMPANY,

* TO ENABLE THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT NOT MORE THAN TWO PERSONS

TO BE ADDITIONAL DIRECTORS ON THE BOARD OF THE COMPANY, AND,

* TO ABOLISH THE PAYMENT OF ROYALTY BY THE COMPANY AS FROM

JANUARY 1, 1976.

THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO EXTEND FOR A FURTHER 20 YEARS, RETROSPECTIVELY FROM JULY 1, 1975, THE CONCESSION GRANTED TO THE COMPANY TO OPERATE A TELEPHONE SERVICE IN HONG KONG.

COMMENTING ON THE REDUCTION IN INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL CHARGES,

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE TELEPHONE COMPANY HAD ALREADY INTRODUCED THE LOWER CHARGES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

IN NOVEMBER 1975 AND HAD RECENTLY MADE REFUNDS TO THOSE SUBSCRIBERS WHO HAVE BENEFITTED BY THE REDUCTIONS.

17