XN000022-1978-04-09 — Page 2

SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 1978

CONVERSION OF PUBLIC HIRE CARS TO TAXIS

******

ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE PUBLIC HIRE CARS WERE CONVERTED INTO URBAN TAXIS AT THE END OF LAST YEAR UNDER A SCHEME TO PHASE OUT SUCH TRANSPORT BY MID-1978.

*ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY 411 OF THE TOTAL 1,329 PUBLIC HIRE CARS WERE RE-REGISTERED AS HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAXIS ON PAYMENT OF A FIXED PREMIUM OF $75,000.

ALTHOUGH OWNERS OF THE PUBLIC HIRE CARS MAY CHOOSE TO CONVERT THEIR VEHICLES INTO PRIVATE CARS WITH A HIRE CAR PERMIT UNDER THE SCHEME, IT IS EXPECTED THAT ONLY 12 WILL BE SO CONVERTED.

THE DEPARTMENT FIGURES ALSO SHOW THAT DURING LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TENDERED 300 HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAXIS AT A PREMIUM RANGING FROM $181,000 TO $196,005.

THESE BROUGHT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED URBAN TAXIS TO 5,465 AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 711 OVER 1976.

THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS STOOD AT 738 AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING TO VISIT PWD WORK SITES

****

MR. DAVID STEAD, P.W.D.'S DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT, WILL INSPECT A NUMBER OF SITES ON HONG KONG ISLAND ON TUESDAY (APRIL 11) TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THE PROGRESS OF VARIOUS P.W.D. PROJECTS.

HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY CHIEF ENGINEERS OF VARIOUS OFFICES CONCERNED.

AMONG THE SITES TO BE VISITED WILL BE THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE VISIT.

PRESS TRANSPORT WILL BE PROVIDED. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WHO WISH TO MAKE USE OF THE OFFICIAL TRANSPORT SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE OPEN CAR PARK OUTSIDE THE RECEPTION OFFICE, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, AT 3.15 P.M. TWO NINE-SEATER VANS. WILL LEAVE MURRAY BUILDING AT 3.20 P.M. SHARP.

OFFICERS OF THE P.W.D.'S PUBLICITY UNIT WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST THE PRESS,

/2