XN000022-1980-06-25 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1980

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YAUMATI FERRY FARES REVISED

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INCREASES IN PASSENGER FARES ON THE SHORTER CROSS-HARBOUR SERVICES AND FOR SOME CATEGORIES OF VEHICLES ON VEHICULAR FERRY SERVICES OF THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY WILL BE INTRODUCED FROM JULY 1.

THE INCREASES WERE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY. THE MAIN CHANGE IS IN THE CROSS-HARBOUR FARE WHICH WILL BE RAISED FROM 50 CENTS TO 60 CENTS FOR ADULTS. CHILDREN WILL STILL BE CHARGED 30 CENTS.

THE COST OF MONTHLY TICKETS WILL BE INCREASED FROM $20 TO $24 FOR ADULTS AND FROM $10 TO $12 FOR CHILDREN.

FOR LIGHT BUSES AND OMNIBUSES USING THE VEHICULAR SERVICE, THE CHARGES WILL BE INCREASED FROM $6 TO $7, AND GOODS VEHICLES FROM $6, $9 AND $12 TO $7, $10 AND $15 RESPECTIVELY, ACCORDING TO THEIR WEIGHT.

THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN CHARGES FOR OTHER VEHICLES, INCLUDING PRIVATE CARS, TAXIS AND MOTOR CYCLES.

MOVING THE MOTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS A DECLINE IN PROFITABILITY IN THE FERRY COMPANY'S SERVICES MAINLY DUE TO INCREASE IN FUEL COSTS AND A DROP IN THE PREDICTED REVENUE FROM VEHICULAR FERRY CHARGES AS A RESULT OF LOWER THAN EXPECTED PATRONAGE, PARTICULARLY BY DANGEROUS GOODS VEHICLES.

+THE INCREASES IN FARES AND CHARGES NOW PROPOSED ARE EXPECTED TO BRING BACK THE PROFITABILITY OF THE COMPANY'S FERRY OPERATIONS IN 1980 TO BETWEEN FIVE AND SIX PER CENT, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, HE DID NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A FURTHER GENERAL INCREASE IN FERRY FARES LATER THIS YEAR OR EARLY IN 1981 SHOULD OPERATING COSTS, PARTICULARLY FUEL COSTS INCREASE FURTHER, OR IF PASSENGER NUMBERS WERE TO DROP.

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