XN000022-1976-07-21 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1976

CHANGES FOR VEHICULAR FERRY SERVICES

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY ADOPTED TWO MOTIONS CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF THE HONG KONG AND YAUMAT! FERRY COMPANY'S VEHICULAR FERRY SERVICES -- ONE INTRODUCING REVISED CATEGORIES OF VEHICLES AND CHARGES AND THE OTHER EXEMPTING THE COMPANY FROM PAYING ITS MONTHLY FEE OF $100,000 FOR RUNNING THE NORTH POINT TO KWUN TONG VEHICULAR SERVICĒ.

IN MOVING THE FIRST MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. ALAN ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT, SAID THE EXISTING SCALE OF CHARGES FOR VEHICULAR FERRY SERVICES WAS BASED ON A CLASSIFICATION OF. VEHICLES WHICH IN SOME CASES ONLY VAGUELY MATCHED THE VEHICLES USING THE SERVICE.

THERE IS, FOR EXAMPLE, NO MENTION OF LIGHT BUSES AND OMNIBUSES, HE SAID.

+TO REMOVE DOUBTS AS TO THE CATEGORY OF ANY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE CLASSIFICATION SHOULD ACCORD WITH THE CLASSIFICATION USED IN ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION,+ HE SAID.

ALSO, A DISTINCTION WILL BE MADE BETWEEN GOODS VEHICLES UNDER 100 HUNDREDWEIGHT AND THOSE OVER 100 HUNDREDWEIGHT, AND NEW CHARGES WILL BE LEVIED ON THOSE EXCEEDING 100 HUNDREDWEIGHT AND LONG VEHICLES EXCEEDING 36 FEET IN LENGTH.

+AS THESE VEHICLES OCCUPY MORE SPACE THAN ORDINARY GOODS VEHICLES AND REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO CONTROL THEIR LOADING AND UNLOADING, IT IS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE THAT THEY SHOULD ATTRACT HIGHER CHARGES,+ MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT ADDED.

HE FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT IN THE REVISED SCALE OF CHARGES, THE EXISTING CHARGES LEVIED ON PRIVATE CARS, MOTORCYCLES, LIGHT BUSES, OMNIBUSES AND ORDINARY GOODS VEHICLES WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED.

IN MOVING ANOTHER MOTION WHICH SOUGHT TO WAIVE THE MONTHLY FEE PAYABLE BY THE COMPANY FOR THE SERVICE BETWEEN NORTH POINT AND KWUN TONG, MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT POINTED OUT THAT THE COMPANY WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO OPERATE THIS ROUTE IN AUGUST 1972 WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE NORTH POINT TO KOWLOON CITY VEHICULAR SERVICE WOULD HAVE TO BE SUSPENDED TO AVOID DUPLICATING THE ROUTE SERVED BY THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL.

THE TERMS OF THE NEW SERVICE INCLUDED THE NORMAL ROYALTY OF 25 PER CENT OF THE NET PROFIT, AND A MONTHLY FEE OF $100,000 WHICH WAS WAIVED FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS TO GIVE THE SERVICE TIME TO SETTLE DOWN. THE COMPANY WAS ALSO GIVEN THE RIGHT TO APPLY FOR A TERMINATION OF THE SERVICE IF IT PROVED TO BE UNPROFITABLE, HE ADDED.

THE NORTH