XN000022-1977-12-21 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1977

EXTENDING DUTIES OF TRAFFIC WARDENS CONSIDERED

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES SAID CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO TRAFFIC WARDENS TO UNDERTAKE CERTA IN OTHER TASKS NOW PERFORMED ENTIRELY BY TRAFFIC POLICE.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. ROGER LOBO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MR. JONES SAID THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE WAS VERY MUCH IN FAVOUR OF EXTENDING THE DUTIES OF TRAFFIC WARDENS IN SO FAR AS THIS WAS POSSIBLE.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED THAT TRAFFIC WARDENS ARE PERFORMING A USEFUL ROLE AND APART FROM THE IR ORIGINAL DUTIES OF CONTROLLING PARKING, THEY ARE ALREADY DIRECTING TRAFFIC IN SOME PLACES.

MR. JONES ALSO NOTED THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TRAFFIC WARDENS HAS ALREADY BEEN INCREASED AND RECRUITMENT IS STILL GOING ON TO BRING IT UP TO STRENGTH,

+ONCE THIS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, THE ESTABLISHMENT WILL BE FURTHER ENLARGED AND RECRUITMENT WILL CONTINUE,+ HE SAID.

ANSWERING ANOTHER QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG ABOUT RECENT ACCIDENTS IN WHICH TWO STUDENTS WERE KILLED AFTER FALL ING OFF CROWDED BUSES WHICH THEY WERE TRYING TO BOARD, MR. JONES SAID THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WOULD BE TAKING UP WITH THE BUS COMPANIES THE POSSIBILITY OF POSTING MORE QUEUE REGULATORS AT THE BUSIER BUS STOPS WHICH WERE NOT YET CONTROLLED DURING RUSH HOURS.

HE ALSO SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO STEP UP ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGNS GENERALLY AND ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE BEING REQUESTED FOR THIS PURPOSE IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.

+AN INCREASE IN THE SUBVENTION TO THE ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION IS ALSO BE ING SOUGHT TO ASSIST THE ASSOCIATION TO FORM MORE SCHOOL ROAD SAFETY PATROLS,+ MR. JONES ADDED.

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