XN000022-1978-05-19 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1978

APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR OPERATING 11 NEW MAXICAB ROUTES

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FROM PUBLIC LIGHT BUS OWNERS TO OPERATE 11 NEW MAXICAB ROUTES ON HONG KONG

ISLAND.

THE NEW ROUTES COVER AREAS WHERE THE OPERATION OF FRANCHISED BUSES IS IMPRACTICAL.

ACCORDING TO A NOTICE IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, AREAS TO BE SERVED BY THE NEW ROUTES INCLUDE BOWEN ROAD, SANDY BAY, KENNEDY TOWN, BROADWOOD ROAD, STANLEY, CHUNG HOM KOK, SHING ON VILLAGE AND CAPE COLLINSON.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID: +MANY OF THESE AREAS HAVE NO PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES AT ALL AT PRESENT.+

HE ALSO POINTED, OUT THAT UP TO NOW EIGHT MAXICAB ROUTES HAVE BEEN OPERATING TO THE PEAK, SHOUSON HILL AND ABERDEEN AREAS, AND THEY HAVE PROVED POPULAR WITH PASSENGERS AND PROFITABLE TO THE OPERATORS.

HE SAID THE MAXICABS ARE IDENTIFIED BY A GREEN AND YELLOW COLOUR WHEREAS THE ORDINARY PLB'S ARE RED AND YELLOW.

+MAXICABS OPERATE ON A FIXED ROUTE, A REGULAR FREQUENCY, AND AT A FLAT FARE. FURTHERMORE THEIR STOPPING PLACES ARE RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN SAFE LOCATIONS, SO THEY COMBINE MANY OF THE BEST FEATURES OF BOTH THE PUBLIC LIGHT BUS AND THE CONVENTIONAL BUS SERVICES,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

APPLICATION FOR OPERATING THESE NEW ROUTES MUST BE MADE ON THE STANDARD FORM +APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUS MAXICAB ROUTES+~~ WHICH IS OBTAINABLE FREE ON REQUEST FROM THE HEADQUARTERS OF TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ON THE SIXTH FLOOR, GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI.

COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE RETURNED BY REGISTERED MAIL TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT BY 5 P.M. ON JUNE 8. LATE APPLICATION WILL NOT EE CONSIDERED.

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