XN000022-1979-04-12 — Page 17

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THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1979

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE LICENCE FEE FOR NON-ENFRANCHISED PUBLIC BUSES IS CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF $10 FOR THE DRIVER AND $30 PER PASSENGER SEAT (THE SAME AS FOR ENFRANCHISED PUBLIC BUSES) AND FOR PRIVATE BUSES IT IS CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF $10 FOR THE DRIVER AND $25 PER PASSENGER SEAT.

THE EFFECTIVE FEE IS, THEREFORE, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $1,000 TO $1,200 PER VEHICLE.

+BEAR ING IN MIND THAT BUSES ARE A DESIRABLE FORM OF TRANSPORT, AND, AS I DID NOT WISH TO BECOME TANGLED UP WITH THE TOUCHY SUBJECT OF PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES GENERALLY, I LEFT THE FEES AT THE IR PRESENT LEVELS FOR THE TIME BE ING, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.

ROAD TOLLS

ON ROAD TOLLS, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID HE HAD EVERY SYMPATHY WITH MR. BREMRIDGE'S FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT'S REFUSAL TO CONSIDER TOLLS FOR THE TUEN MUN FREEWAY.

HE EXPLAINED THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY IS TO IMPOSE TOLLS WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY TO MEET THE COST OF PROVIDING SUCH A FACILITY IF ITS ADEQUATE UTILISATION WOULD NOT THEREBY BE JEOPARD ISED.

+BUT WE MUST BE PRACTICAL TO COLLECT TOLLS ON THE USE OF TUNNELS IS EASY AND PARTICULARLY JUSTIFIED WHERE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES ARE AVAILABLE BUT IT WOULD BE COMPLICATED AND EXPENSIVE TO CHARGE VEHICLES USING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY GIVEN THE NUMBER OF ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS.+

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LEGCO TAKEN INTO THE ADMINISTRATION'S TRUST

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FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THE BUDGET SPEECH EXPOSED THE GOVERNMENT'S UNDERLYING THINKING AND BY DOING SO DID TAKE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL INTO THE ADMINISTRATION'S TRUST.

+HOWEVER, IF I WAS TOO ELLIPTICAL THIS YEAR, AND IF IT IS HONOURABLE MEMBERS' WISH, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPELL OUT OUR THINKING EVEN MORE CAREFULLY NEXT YEAR, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID WHEN WINDING UP THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

HE SAID THIS IN REPLY TO CRITICISMS FROM UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE HON. T.S. LO TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN HE CALLED ON THE ADMINISTRATION TO TRUST THIS COUNCIL AND INFORM MEMBERS FULLY AND WITHOUT RESERVATION HOW POLICIES ARE DETERMINED AND THEREBY TO EXPLAIN HOW CONFLICTING VIEWS HAVE BEEN RECONCILED.

EXPLAINING