XN000022-1979-05-18 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1979

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BUSES TO CONTINUE TO PLAY DOMINANT ROLE IN TRANSPORT

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BUSES WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A DOMINANT ROLE IN HONG KONG'S TRANSPORT SYSTEM EVEN WHEN THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY BEGINS OPERATION, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, DR. RICHARD BUTLER, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) AT A ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH LUNCHEON.

AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF INTERFERING WITH THE FARES WHICH BUSES, TRAMS AND FERRIES CHARGE SO AS TO RIG THEM TO BENEFIT THE MTR, HE SAID.

REFERRING TO PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE TRANSPORT WHITE PAPER TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 9, DR. BUTLER SAID.

+SOME SPOKESMEN HAVE EXPRESSED FEARS THAT OUR PLANNING PLACES OVER-DEPENDENCE ON THE MTR AND THAT BUSES WILL BE REDUCED TO A SUPPLEMENTARY ROLE. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

+THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM OF THE MTR WILL CARRY, AT MOST ONLY ONE MILLION OUT OF OVER SIX MILLION BOARDINGS A DAY AND WILL FACE COMPETITION FROM BUSES AND FERRIES AND TO A LESS EXTENT PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES IN JUST THE SAME WAY AS THE BUSES NOW FACE SUCH COMPETITION.+

DR. BUTLER SAID THAT THE NUMBER OF BUSES ON PARTICULAR ROUTES MIGHT BE REDUCED AS PREVIOUS USERS SWITCH TO THE MTR.

+BUT THE IMPORTANT THING TO STRESS IS THAT BUS CAPACITY ON A ROUTE WILL BE REDUCED IN RESPONSE TO A VOLUNTARY SWITCH IN DEMAND AND THE BUSES RELEASED WILL BE USED ELSEWHERE TO IMPROVE BUS SERVICES IN AREAS NOT SERVED BY THE MTR, HE SAID.

DR. BUTLER HOPED THAT ANY CUTBACKS IN THE NUMBER OF BUSES ON PARTICULAR ROUTES WOULD BE MUCH LESS THAN ANY FALL IN PUBLIC DEMAND SO THAT OVERCROWDING COULD BE REDUCED.

*WE ARE PLANNING WITH THE COMPANIES FOR AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF BUS SERVICES SO AS TO REDUCE OVERCROWDING, IMPROVE CLEANLINESS AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BREAKDOWNS, HE SAID.

SPEAKING ABOUT CONTAINING THE GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE VEHICLES DR. BUTLER SAID GOVERNMENT WOULD TRY TO ACHIEVE THIS BY PARKING AND FISCAL MEANS.

HE SAID: INCREASES IN REGISTRATION AND LICENCE FEES HAVE NOT BEEN EMPLOYED IN THE PAST TO CONTAIN PRIVATE VEHICLE NUMBERS' GROWTH THEY HAVE BEEN USED TO RAISE PUBLIC REVENUE, AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MATTER.

+AS REGARDS PARKING CONTROL THE PRINCIPLE IS THAT WE CONSTRAIN PARKING FACILITIES TO THOSE LOCATIONS WHERE THE ROADS CAN BEAR THE STRAIN OF THE INCREASED MOTORING WHICH THE IR PROVISION WILL GENERATE. SUBJECT TO THAT, OF COURSE WE WILL SEE TO IT THAT OFF-STREET CAR PARKS ARE BUILT.

/DR. BUTLER