XN000022-1977-01-19 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1977.

DEMAND FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT HIGHER AT PEAK

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HOURS

THERE IS A HIGHER DEMAND FOR ALL FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, INCLUDING TAXIS, DURING PEAK HOURS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG, HE SAID: +THE PROBLEM IS MADE WORSE IN THE EVENING PEAK BY THE UNFORTUNATE HABIT ADOPTED BY THE TAXI TRADE OF CHANGING SHIFTS AT ABOUT THAT TIME.+

IN REPLY TO MR. WONG'S SECOND QUESTION, MR. JONES SAID WHEN TAXI LICENCES WERE TRANSFERRED, THE CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS MADE BETWEEN PARTIES CONCERNED DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPORTED.

HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MARKET PRICE FOR THE TRANSFER OF TAXI LICENCES WAS AS HIGH AS $180,000 IN SOME CASES.

TURNING TO THE ISSUE BY TENDER OF MORE TAXI LICENCES, HE SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO CALL TENDERS FOR 100 ADDITIONAL TAXI LICENCES EVERY MONTH.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WOULD NOT BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO INCREASE THIS MONTHLY FIGURE ABOVE 100.

+ALL NEW TAXIS HAVE TO BE INSPECTED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT BEFORE THEY CAN GO ON THE ROADS, AND, THEREAFTER, THEY ARE RE-INSPECTED EVERY 12 MONTHS AND THEIR METERS EVERY SIX MONTHS,+ HE SAID.

+GIVEN THE DEMANDS NOW BEING PLACED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTION FACILITIES, IT CANNOT AT PRESENT HANDLE MORE THAN 100 ADDITIONAL TAXIS PER MONTH,+ HE ADDED.