XN000022-1978-05-10 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

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RAILWAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL

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A BILL TO CHANGE THE TITLE OF THE RAILWAYS ORDINANCE TO THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY ORDINANCE AND TO BRING IN SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING PROVISIONS WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE RAILWAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, SAID THE CHANGE OF TITLE WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION.

+AS IT STANDS AT PRESENT IT CAN THEORETICALLY COVER THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF ANY RAILWAY IN HONG KONG, ALTHOUGH

IN PRACTICE IT GOVERNS ONLY THE KOWLCON-CANTON RAILWAY (BRITISH SECTION),+ MR. JONES SAID.

+THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY IS GOVERNED BY ITS OWN SEPARATE ORDINANCE.+

CONCERNING OTHER AMENDMENTS, MR. JONES SAID ONE PROVIDES THAT ALL REFERENCES TO ADMINISTRATOR OR CHIEF RESIDENT ENGINEER, WHICH ARE DEFUNCT POSTS, ARE TO BE REPLACED BY GENERAL MANAGER.

THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO PROVIDE A DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER

IN CASE SUCH A POST IS CREATED, HE ADDED.

ANOTHER AMENDMENT SEEKS TO ENABLE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO MAKE RAILWAY RULES IN PLACE OF STANDING ORDERS AND, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR, TO PROVIDE IN THE RULES FOR THE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES FOR RAILWAY EMPLOYEES, MR. JONRS SAID.

+SENIOR RANKS WILL STILL BE SUBJECT TO CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS,+ HE ADDED.

THE DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

AUXILIARY FORCES PAY AND ALLOWANCES (AMENDMENT) BILL

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MEMBERS OF THE AUXILIARY POLICE WOULD NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE RATION ALLOWANCE UNDER A PROPOSED BILL INTORDUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE AUXILIARY FORCES PAY AND ALLOWANCES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1970, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, SAID THE NECESSITY FOR THE BILL AROSE FROM THE RECENT PAY AWARD TO THE AUXILIARY POLICE, +ONE ELEMENT OF WHICH WAS THAT MEMBERS SHOULD NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE RATION ALLOWANCE.+

DEBATE OF THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.