XN000022-1979-03-28 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1979

+LET US THEREFORE CONSIDER POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TAXES ON USAGE NOT POSSESSION, AND ON CONTROLS ON AREAS AND TIMES IN PARTICULAR AND NOT IN GENERAL, HE SAID.

THERE IS A PROPOSAL NOW IN THE U.K. FOR ABANDONING VEHICLE LICENCES IN FAVOUR OF FUEL TAX. AND THERE ARE STRONG ARGUMENTS FOR MEASURES DESIGNED DELIBERATELY TO LIMIT FUEL CONSUMPTION,

ROAD TOLLS

MR. BREMR IDGE SAID HE COULD SEE NO PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ABERDEEN AND LION ROCK TUNNELS, AND THE TUEN MUN FREEWAY AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT'S REFUSAL TO CONSIDER TOLLS FOR THE LATTER WHEN IT IS COMPLETED.

WHILE THERE IS SOME VALIDITY TO ARGUMENTS THAT THE ROAD USER SHOULD NOT PAY FOR UNIQUE FACILITIES IN ADDITION TO NORMAL ROAD TAXES, ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO THE $438 MILLION TUEN MUN FREEWAY ARE AVAILABLE AS ARE THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL.

HE THOUGHT IT IMPROVIDENT NOT TO CHARGE TOLLS SO THAT THE RUNNING COST AND FULL AMORTISATION OF THESE FACILITIES CAN FALL ON THE USER AND NOT PURELY AND SIMPLY ON THE TAXPAYER.

CUTTING THE CIVIL SERVICE

MR. BREMRIDGE SAID THE CIVIL SERVICE, WHICH IS VERY OVER-STRETCHED AT THIS JUNCTION, CAN DO WITH A LITTLE PERSONNEL SHRINKAGE.

"

+

HE ASKED FOR A FRESH LOOK AT POSSIBLE AREAS OF DEVOLUTION: THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, COMPUTERS, AIRPORT MANAGEMENT, WATER SUPPLIES, THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, RADIO TELEVISIÓN HONG KONG, HARBOUR MANAGEMENT, AND REFUSE DISPOSAL.

HE SAID SOME OF THESE COULD PERHAPS BE SOLD OFF TO COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OR SET UP AS QUASI GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS, RESULTING IN MAJOR SAVINGS AND A TIGHTER AND MORE COMPETENT CIVIL SERVICE, AND HELPING IN SALARY GRADING EXERCISES.

LAND SHORTAGE

MR. BREMRIDGE THOUGHT THE POSSIBILITY OF RECLAIMING VAST TRACTS OF LAND, INVOLVING PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, CAN BE FURTHER STUDIED. FURTHERMORE, THERE ARE STILL ALL THE UNTILLED PADDY LYING FALLOW IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

LAILS SE