XN000022-1976-10-09 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1976

THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO CONSIDERING CHARGING A FEE FOR ANNUAL INSPECTION OF VEHICLES. THE CHARGE WILL BE ABOUT $70 PER VEHICLE.

+COMPULSORY ANNUAL INSPECTION OF VEHICLES HAS ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED IN MANY COUNTRIES LIKE THE UNITED KINGDOM, NEW ZEALAND, THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN- AND A MAJORITY OF THEM ARE CHARGING A FEE FOR INSPECTION, MR. ANDREWS SAID.

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THERE ARE NOW THREE VEHICLE INSPECTION CENTRES ONE AT TO KWA WAN, KOWLOON, AND THE OTHER TWO ARE IN TSUEN WAN, NEW TERRITORIES AND SO KUN PO ON THE ISLAND. ANOTHER ONE AT WHITFIELD BARRACKS IN KOWLOON WAS CLOSED EARLY THIS MONTH TO MAKE WAY FOR THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.

AT PRESENT, THE WORK OF THE VEHICLE INSPECTION SECTION OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT COVERS ANNUAL INSPECTION OF TAXIS WITH THE IR METERS CHECKED EVERY SIX MONTHS, PUBLIC CARS, ALL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC. OMNIBUSES AND ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES.

IN ADDITION, MECHANICAL INSPECTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT ON ALL GOODS VEHICLES AND PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES BEFORE INITIAL REGISTRATION AND LICENSING, ALL USED IMPORTED VEHICLES PRIOR TO REGISTRATION AND LICENSING, THE FIRST OF EVERY NEW MODEL OF PRIVATE CARS. DEFECTIVE VEHICLES REFERRED TO THE SECTION BY THE POLICE AND VEHICLES INVOLVED IN FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

LAST YEAR, THE SECTION INSPECTED OVER 36,000 VEHICLES.

GRANTS FROM SIR DAVID TRENGH FUND

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A TOTAL OF 137 ORGANISATIONS WHICH ARE INVOLVED IN PROVIDING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE GRANTS FROM THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION THIS YEAR.

THE GRANTS TOTAL OVER $345,000.

THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION WAS SET UP IN 1970 FOR THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATION, SPORT, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND RELATED PURPOSES WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS TOWARDS THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE PURPOSEFUL USE OF LEISURE BY YOUNG PEOPLE.

MEANWHILE, APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR WILL BE INVITED.

ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE MADE IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS IN MID-DECEMBER AND APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM ALL CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND DISTRICT OFFICES AT THAT TIME.

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