XN000022-1978-04-26 — Page 38

EDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

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CONVERSION OF PARKING METERS TO ACCEPT

NEW 50-CENT COINS

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THERE IS A PROGRAMME WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY PROVIDE FOR ALL PARKING METERS TO OPERATE ON THE NEW 50-CENT COINS.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG, MR. JONES POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT OUT OF A TOTAL OF 11,000. PARKING METERS, ONLY 2,000 STILL ACCEPT THE OLD 50-CENT COINS AND NOT THE NEW PIECES.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT CHARGES FOR THE NEW METERS ARE HIGHER THAN FOR THE OLD ONES AND THAT THEY DO NOT ACCEPT 10-CENT COINS.

+BUT, AS THE OLD METERS ARE GENERALLY IN THE MORE PERIPHERAL URBAN DISTRICTS, NEW METERS ARE ONLY INTRODUCED IN THESE AREAS WHEN THE DEMAND FOR METERED PARKING SPACES JUSTIFIES THE HIGHER CHARGES, + MR. JONES SAID.

+MOST OF THESE OLD METERS, HOWEVER, ALSO ACCEPT 10-CENT COINS. AND THEIR INSTRUCTION PLATES ARE NOW BEING CHANGED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT ONLY 10-CENT COINS SHOULD BE USED, HE ADDED.

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