XN000022-1977-04-20 — Page 24

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1977

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THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO GIVE ADDITIONAL POWERS TO THE

COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORTS OVER THE OPERATIONS OF THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY IN RESPECT OF

* CHANGING CALLING POINTS AND ROUTES OF FERRY SERVICES ON

A TEMPORARY BASIS-

*

INTRODUCING TEMPORARY SERVICES AND SETTING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING FARES, FOR THE RUNNING OF SUCH SERVICES AND

* REQUIRING THE MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS AND THEIR

SUBMISSION TO THE COMMISSIONER ON DEMAND.

MR. JONES SAID THAT ALL THESE AMENDMENT WERE ACCEPTABLE TO THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY.

HOWEVER, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE STAR FERRY COMPANY (SERVICES) (AMENDMENT) BILL, HE SAID THAT THE STAR FERRY COMPANY HAD OBJECTED TO THE PROVISION RELATING TO THE KEEPING OF RECORDS AND OR MAKING COPIES OF SUCH RECORDS AVAILABLE TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WHEN REQUIRED.

+THE GOVERNMENT, ON THE OTHER HAND CONSIDERS THAT IT MUST INSIST ON THIS REQUIREMENT, + HE SAID. IT CANNOT ACCEPT THAT, IN THIS RESPECT, THE STAR FERRY COMPANY SHOULD BE PLACED IN A PRIVILEDGED POSITION IN RELATION TO THESE OTHER COMPANIES (THE YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY AND THE BUS COMPANIES)+,

THE FERRIES (AMENDMENT) BILL, WHICH ALSO RECEIVED ITS SECOND READING TODAY, SEEKS TO AMEND THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE TO ENABLE REGULATIONS TO BE MADE TO REQUIRE THE HOLDERS OF LICENCES FOR MINOR FERRY SERVICES TO KEEP RECORDS.

IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE GOVERNOR TO ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT AND FOR APPEALS AGAINST THE COMMISSIONER'S DECISIONS TO BE MADE TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.

IN ADDITION, IT IS PROPOSED TO AMEND THE FERRY REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE THE COMMISSIONER WITH POWERS OVER THE MINOR SERVICES SIMILAR TO THOSE PROPOSED FOR HIM OVER THE SERVICES OPERATED BY THE TWO PRINCIPAL FERRY COMPANIES,

MR. JONES SAID THAT THE FERRIES ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED BEFORE THE ORDINANCES GOVERNING THE OPERATIONS OF THE TWO MAJOR FERRY COMPANIES.

BUT HE ADDED THAT THE ORDINANCE, TOGETHER WITH THE SUBSIDIARY FERRIES REGULATIONS, WAS STILL USED TO GOVERN MINOR FERRY SERVICES.

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