XN000022-1978-08-02 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1978

BUS SERVICES TO CENTRAL DISTRICT

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THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED THAT THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY 13 DOING ALL IT CAN TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICES TO AND FROM CENTRAL DISTRICT IN PEAK HOURS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG, MR. JONES SAID THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS IN CONTINUOUS TOUCH WITH THE BUS COMPANIES ABOUT THE ROUTING AND FREQUENCY OF THEIR SERVICES AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT HAS POWERS TO REQUIRE CHANGES TO BE MADE.

HOWEVER, MR. JONES SAID THE HEAVY DEMAND FOR BUSES AND OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORT DURING PEAK HOURS IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO MEET AND WAITING TIMES FOR PASSENGERS IN THESE PERIODS MUST INEVITAELY BE LONGER.

HE ADDED THAT IN THE SHORT RUN, TO DIRECT YET MORE BUSES TO CENTRAL DURING EVENING HOURS WILL ONLY LEAD TO SHORTAGES IN OTHER ROUTES.

MR. JONES POINTED OUT THAT OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS THE CMB'S FLEET OF BUSES HAS INCREASED FROM 708 TO 759 AND THEIR CARRYING CAPACITY HAS RISEN FROM ABOUT 68,000 TO 75,000. A FURTHER 127 NEW BUSES ARE ON ORDER AND SOME OLDER BUSES ARE BEING REBUILT AND MODERNISED.

+ALL OF THE NEW BUSES ON ORDER ARE HIGH CAPACITY, AND ARE CAPABLE OF CARRYING UP TO 120 PASSENGERS, MR. JONES SAID.

+AS THEY ARRIVE THE NEW VEHICLES WILL BE USED TO IMPROVE FREQUENCIES AND CAPACITY ON THOSE ROUTES WITH THE GREATEST DEMAND, INCLUDING THOSE SERVING CENTRAL DISTRICT,+ HE ADEED.

IN REPLY TO A SEPARATE QUESTION FROM THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO STU-WAH ON BUS SERVICE, MR. JONES REITERATED THAT STANDING ON THE UPPER DECK IS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE.

HOWEVER, MR. JONES SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THERE HAS BEEN ANY NOTICEABLE INCREASES IN THE NUMBERS OF PASSENGERS STANDING ON THE UPPER DECKS OF BUSES.

+ IF STANDING OCCURS, IT IS MAINLY DURING PEAK HOURS, WHEN THE DRIVER OF A ONE-MAN EUS IS VERY FULLY OCCUPIED WITH CHECKING FARES, MR. JONES SAID.

+THE POLICE ALSO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE OVER-CROWDING CF BUSES, BUT THEY VERY OFTEN FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PERSUADE PASSENGERS WHO HAVE PAID THEIR FARES TO LEAVE THE BUS,+ HE ADDED.

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