XN000022-1979-02-14 — Page 32

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1979

LAW COVERS NO. OF LORRY PASSENGERS

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THERE ARE LEGISLATIVE CONTROL OVER THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS THAT CAN BE CARRIED IN LORRIES OUTSIDE OF THE CAB, THE HON. DEREK JONES, SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT ON WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PREVENT LORRIES CARRYING PASSENGERS OTHER THAN IN THE CAB, MR. JONES SAID IT WOULD NOT BE PRACTICABLE TO BAN PASSENGERS ALTOGETHER FROM TRAVELLING IN LORRIES OUTSIDE THE CAB.

IT WAS OFTEN NECESSARY FOR THESE VEHICLES TO CARRY THE WORKERS NEEDED TO LOAD AND UNLOAD, HE SAID.

BUT THERE ARE CONTROLS OVER THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS THAT CAN BE CARRIED, HE SAID.

+UNDER REGULATION 96 OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND USE) REGULATIONS, A LORRY WEIGHING LESS THAN TWO TONS CAN CARRY ONLY ONE PERSON ON THE REAR PLATFORM AND A LORRY EXCEEDING TWO TONS MAY CARRY UP TO SIX PASSENGERS.

+IN CERTAIN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES, ALSO, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT IS EMPOWERED TO ISSUE EXCESS PASSENGER PERMITS IN CASES WHERE MORE PEOPLE NEED TO BE CARRIED, HE SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT IT IS MAINLY DONE FOR GOODS VEHICLES CARRYING FARMERS AND THEIR PRODUCE TO MARKET IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND FOR PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES TAKING WORKMEN TO EMERGENCY REPAIR JOBS.

MR. JONES SAID THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT CONSIDERS THESE ARRANGEMENTS LAST REVIEWED IN 1976, ARE GENERALLY WORK ING SATISFACTORILY.

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