XN000022-1981-02-04 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1981

PROPOSAL TO LIMIT HIRE CARS

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THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981, WHICH LIMITS THE NUMBER OF CONTRACT HIRE CAR PERMITS TO BE ISSUED, WAS PUBLISHED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

THE BILL ALSO ENABLES TRANSPORT TRIBUNALS TO REVIEW DECISIONS BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO CANCEL PERMITS. THE TRIBUNAL WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO REVIEW CASES IN WHICH THE COMMISSIONER HAS REFUSED TO ISSUE PERMITS.

A THIRD PROVISION ALLOWS THAT WHERE ANY REGULATION IS MADE UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE DEALING WITH THE GRANTING OF HIRE CAR PERMITS THE COMMISSIONER MAY, IN HIS DISCRETION #

* GIVE PRIORITY TO ANY PERSON OR CLASS OF PERSONS-

* DETERMINE BY LOT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AND

* LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PERMITS WHICH MAY BE GRANTED TO ANY

PERSON OR CLASS OF PERSONS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE AMENDING BILL, IF PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WOULD ENABLE REGULATIONS TO BE MADE INCORPORATING THESE THREE PROVISIONS.

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MTR ISLAND LINE PROPOSAL

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A BILL TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ISLAND LINE WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEDNESDAY.

THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS)(AMENDMENT) BILL 1981 IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IT SEEKS TO ENLARGE GEOGRAPHICALLY THE SCOPE OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE BY INCLUDING THE SECTION OF THE MTR BETWEEN WESTERN MARKET AND CHAI WAN.

THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON LAND ACQUISITION AND COMPENSATION CLAIMS ARISING FROM THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAILWAY.

IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE ORDINANCE THAT ANY LAND RESUMPTION BE PRECEDED BY THE EXHIBITION OF A RAILWAY AREA PLAN.

TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT WITHIN THE OVERALL TIMETABLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ISLAND LINE, THE PLAN MUST BE EXHIBITED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.

FOR THIS REASON IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE BILL BE TAKEN THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN ONE SITTING.

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