XN000022-1978-12-20 — Page 27

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1978

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1,231 ABANDONED VEHICLES REMOVED FROM ROADS

UP TO OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR

******

POLICE REMOVED 1,324 ABANDONED VEHICLES FROM ROADS IN 1977 AND 1,231 THIS YEAR UP TO OCTOBER 1, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR. DAVIES SAID THIS IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT.

IN DISCHARGING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTROLLING TRAFFIC ON PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES AND REMOVING OBSTRUCTIONS, HE SAID, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE DECIDES ON THE OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES TO BE ACCORDED TO IT, AND HIS OFFICERS CONSIDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PARTICULAR OBSTRUCTION,+

MR. DAVIES SAID POLICE WOULD WRITE TO THE OWNER TO REMOVE HIS VEHICLE IF IT HAD BEEN LEFT ON ANY ROAD FOR A PERIOD EXCEEDING 72 HOURS AND APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED.

IF THE OWNER DID NOT COMPLY WITHIN SEVEN DAYS THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TOWED AWAY TO THE POLICE POUND, HE EXPLAINED.

+ IN ADDITION, ANY PARKED OR BROKEN DOWN VEHICLE WHICH IS LIKELY TO OBSTRUCT THE TRAFFIC FLOW OR ENDANGER PEOPLE USING THE ROAD, MAY BE TOWED AWAY WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE, MR. DAVIES ADDED.

+ IN THE CASE OF OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS TO PAVEMENTS AND ROADS, PATROLLING POLICE OFFICERS MAY ORDER THEIR REMOVAL,

+ IF OWNERS FAIL TO COMPLY THEN THEY ARE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION, THIS YEAR, UP TO DECEMBER 1, THERE HAVE BEEN 46,163 PROSECUTIONS FOR THIS OFFENCE. IF THE OWNER OF GOODS OR MATERIALS CAUSING THE OBSTRUCTION CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED, THE POLICE ARRANGE WITH URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO EFFECT REMOVAL,+ MR. DAVIES SAID.

FERRY SPEED LIMIT *****

THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES. THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE WOULD EXEMPT FERRY SPEED LIMITS WHEN HE CONSIDERED IT SAFE TO DO SO.

MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THIS IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING ON WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER RELAXING THE SPEED LIMIT WITHIN THE HARBOUR, SO THAT MORE SPEEDY CROSS-HARBOUR FERRY SERVICES COULD BE PROVIDED.

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