XN000022-1979-08-01 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1979

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HE SAID THE ONLY SERVICE AVAILABLE, TO A SMALL NUMBER OF SEVERELY DISABLED PERSONS, WAS THE REHABUS RUN SUCCESSFULLY BY THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR REHABILITATION AS A PILOT PROJECT.

HE HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE IT ON AND EXPAND IT

EVENTUALLY,

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE COST OF THE SERVICE WAS, HOWEVER, TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE IT EXTENDED TO SERVE ALL THE SEVERELY DISABLED, AND TAXIS AND CONTRACT HIRE-CARS WERE MUCH TOO EXPENSIVE TO BE USED REGULARLY.

HE SAID THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO THE DISABLED WAS THE USE OF PRIVATE CARS.

DR. FANG THEREFORE ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER SETTING UP A SPECIAL LOAN FUND TO HELP THOSE WHO COULD DRIVE TO BUY THEIR OWN CARS.

HE SAID THERE WERE SIMILAR SCHEMES IN THE UK AND A NUMBER OF DISABLED PERSONS WERE ALREADY DRIVING THEIR OWN CARS IN HONG KONG.

AS MORE THAN 100 DISABLED PERSONS WERE AT PRESENT ON THE LIST WAITING TO BE INSTRUCTED IN DRIVING, DR. FANG FURTHER ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE AT LEAST TWO MORE INSTRUCTOR LICENCES TO THOSE QUALIFIED IN TEACHING HAND-CONTROLLED VEHICLES, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE HARBOUR, TO GIVE THE DISABLED SPECIAL TUITION.

CONGESTION BY GOODS VEHICLES

THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN SAID THE SOLUTION OFFERED BY THE WHITE PAPER TO ALLEVIATE ROAD CONGESTION CAUSED BY GOODS VEHICLES WAS +THEORETICAL TREATMENT.+

THE PROPOSED SOLUTION OF MORE USE OF BIGGER AND LARGER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE PRACTICAL BECAUSE LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES WOULD CONTINUE TO BE NEEDED BY THE MANY FLATTED FACTORIES IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS.

HE SUGGESTED THAT A MORE POSITIVE SOLUTION WAS THE BUILDING OF OFF-STREET MULTI-STOREY LORRY PARKS, AS OPPOSED TO THE LESS ECONOMICAL OPEN-AIR PARKS.

THESE LORRY PARKS COULD PERHAPS INCORPORATE MAINTENANCE FACILITIES FOR GOODS VEHICLES ON THE GROUND FLOORS AND WORKERS' CANTEENS ON THE TOP FLOORS TO MAXIMISE LAND USE.

HE REMINDED THE GOVERNMENT OF ITS PROMISE TO EXERCISE STRICT LEASE ENFORCEMENT ACTION ON UNLAWFUL CONVERSION OF GROUND FLOOR SPACE IN INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, AND ASKED IT TO DEPLOY INTENSIVE MANPOWER TO MANAGE HABITUALLY CONGESTED AREAS.

HE ALSO CALLED FOR A RE-EXAMINATION OF TRAFFIC PENALTIES, PARTICULARLY FOR OFFENCES LIKE OVERLOADING, ILLEGAL PARKING AND DOUBLE PARKING, IN RESPECT OF GOODS VEHICLES.

HE THOUGHT