XN000022-1977-10-12 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1977

CMB STEPS UP EFFORTS TO TACKLE BUS FREQUENCY PROBLEM

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THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY HAS RECENTLY BEEN STEPPING UP ITS RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN FOR DRIVERS AND A WAGE INCREASE HAS ALSO BEEN GRANTED IN ITS EFFORTS TO ARREST THE DETERIORATION OF BUS FREQUENCY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES SAID.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. LYDIA DUNN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MR. JONES SAID THERE APPEAR TO BE TWO MAIN REASONS FOR THE DETERIORATION IN THE FREQUENCY OF BUSES ON CERTAIN ROUTES OPERATED BY THE BUS COMPANY.

THE FIRST IS A SHORTAGE OF DRIVERS IN RELATION BOTH TO THE GROWING NUMBER OF BUSES AND THE ADDITIONAL ROUTES BEING OPERATED.

THE SECOND REASON IS GROWING TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON SOME ROUTES WHICH IS SLOWING BUSES DOWN AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN SCHEDULES.

ON THE DRIVER SHORTAGE PROBLEM, MR. JONES SAID WITH THE BOOM IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AT THE MOMENT, THERE IS INTENSE COMPETITION FOR DRIVERS OF HEAVY VEHICLES AND MANY DRIVERS DO NOT LIKE THE SHIFT WORK ASSOCIATED WITH BUS DRIVING.

+FURTHERMORE, HE SAID, THE COMPANY IS VERY PROPERLY AWARE OF THE NEED TO EMPLOY REALLY COMPETENT DRIVERS ON ITS DIFFICULT HILLY ROUTES AND NOT ALL DRIVERS ARE ABLE TO MEET ITS EXACTING TESTING STANDARDS.+

ON THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEM, MR. JONES SAID THERE IS NO QUICK AND EASY SOLUTION TO IT AND IT HAS TO BE TACKLED BY A VARIETY OF MEANS.

+IN THE SHORT TERM NEW TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEMES WILL BE TRIED OUT AND, IN DUE COURSE, THE OPENING OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL, NEW AND IMPROVED ROADS AND THE COMPLETION OF THE MASS TRANSIT WORKS IN CENTRAL SHOULD HELP TO EASE THE POSITION.+

THE CMB

HE NOTED THAT DESPITE ALL THESE DIFFICULTIES, HAS NEVERTHELESS BEEN OPERATING MORE BUSES ON MORE ROUTES AND CARRYING MORE PASSENGERS OVERALL.

ON THE QUESTION OF CMB'S FRANCHISE, MR. JONES REVEALED THAT THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT IS PREPARING FULL REPORTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BOTH BUS COMPANIES AS THE CURRENT FRANCHISE FOR THE TWO COMPANIES HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR SOME TWO YEARS AND NEEDS REVIEW.

HE SAID THESE REPORTS ARE NOW NEARING COMPLETION AND WHEN THEY ARE READY, HE WILL SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THEM BEFORE SUBMITTING A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.

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