XN000022-1978-07-19 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1978

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QUERY ON WORKING HOURS OF BUS DRIVERS

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE STEPS TO INTRODUCE MAXIMUM WORK ING HOURS FOR PUBLIC OMINEUS DRIVERS IF IT CAN BE SHOWN THAT LONG WORKING HOURS BY EXPERIENCED DRIVERS ARE CAUSING ACCIDENTS.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR. JONES NOTED THAT THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT ALREADY EXERCISED INFLUENCE OVER WORKING HOURS BY FIXING SCHEDULES TO ENSURE THAT DRIVING REQUIREMENTS ARE REASONABLE AND THAT THERE WAS ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR LAYOVER TIMES BETWEEN TRIPS AND FOR MEAL BREAKS.

MR. JONES SAID THAT THE STANDARD WORKING WEEK FOR BUS AT PRESENT WAS 48 HOURS BUT, GIVEN THE DIFFICULTIES IN RECRUITING SUITABLE DRIVERS, OVERTIME WAS USUALLY WORKED.

+IF RIGID MAXIMUM HOURS WERE TO BE FIXED THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCE THAT LESS BUSES WOULD BE ON THE ROAD, HE SAID.

MONEY-LENDERS ORDINANCE ADEQUATE TO PROTECT BORROWERS *****

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID T.K. WONG TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE PROVISION IN THE MONEY-LENDERS ORDINANCE FOR THE COURTS TO PROTECT BORROWERS AGAINST EXORBITANT RATES OF BOTH SIMPLE AND COMPOUND INTERESTS, AND THERE IS NO PLAN TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG- LEEN ON WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER AMENDING THE MONEY-LENDERS ORDINANCE SO AS TO LIMIT THE MAXIMUM RATE OF INTEREST CHARGEABLE BY MONEY-LENDERS ON ANY LOANS TO 36 PER CENT AND PROHIBIT THE CHARGING OF COMPOUND INTEREST BY THEM ON ANY LOANS.

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