XN000022-1978-06-01 — Page 11

10

THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1978

THE THIRD MAJOR AIM, HE SAID, WAS TO AROUSE PUBLIC INTEREST IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. +A SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY CAN ALSO BE PROMOTED THROUGH HONG KONG IDE CAMPAIGNS AND PROGRAMMES SUCH AS THE FIGHT CRIME AND KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGNS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS LIKE THE ANNUAL SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME PARTICULARLY WHEN LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO HELP WITH THE ORGANISATION OF THESE ACTIVITIES.

+TO MAKE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION POSSIBLE IT IS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FACILITIES SUCH AS COMMUNITY CENTRES, RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICES, VILLAGE OFFICES, YOUTH CENTRES, COMMUNITY HALLS AND TOWN HALLS, STADIA, MULTI-PURPOSE GAMES HALLS AND ESTATE WELFARE CENTRES,+ MR. TODD SAID.

PLB'S HAVE IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN TRANSPORT NETWORK

******

A SENIOR OFFICER OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY EMPHASISEL THAT PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN HONG KONG'S TRANSPORT NETWORK.

MR. RICHARD MEAK IN, CHIEF TRANSPORT OFFICER, SAID THAT PLB'S WERE PARTICULARLY ESSENTIAL ON THOSE ROUTES WHERE DEMAND COULD NOT BE COMPLETELY SATISFIED BY LARGE BUSES, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF LOW DEMAND, HEAVY RUSH-HOUR DEMAND OR DIFFICULT ROAD CONDITIONS.

HE REJECTED RECENT ALLEGATIONS FROM THE PLB TRADE THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON PLE'S WAS ENTIRELY ONE OF RESTRAINT AND THAT POSITIVE MEASURES WERE NOT TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT PLE OPERATIONS WERE VIABLE.

MR. MEAKIN SAID THAT GOVERNMENT WAS CONTINUING TO PROVIDE TERMINALS EXCLUSIVELY RESERVED FOR PLE'S IN NEW DEVELOPMENT AREAS SUCH AS THE MAJOR PLB TERMINI RECENTLY COMPLETED AT OCEAN PARK, THE SHA TIN RACE COURSE HICHILL ACCOMMODATE OVER 500 PLE'S, AND THE SHAM SHUI PO FERRY CONCOURSE WHICH WILL BE OPENED ON JUNE 13.

+

MR. MEAKIN SAID THAT ANOTHER POSITIVE STEP TO IMPROVE THE PLE TRADE WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF MAXICAE SERVICES. HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE NOW EIGHT MAXICAB ROUTES ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND THAT APPLICATIONS ERE RECENTLY CALLED FOR ANCTHER 11 AXICAE ROUTES.

HE SAID THAT LITIALLY RICUT 30 HEL MAXICAE ROUTES WERE BEING PLANNED FOR HONG KONG, AICUT 30 FOR KOWLOON.

..HEN THE MAXICAE PROGRATE FOR ECTH HONG KONG AND KOWLOCI IS COMPLETED THE TRANSPORT CEPTENT TEES TO TECELCE

I ABOUT 62 MAXICAE ROUTES IN THE E., TERITORIES,

MR. MEAKIN