XN000022-1981-02-11 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981

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GUARANTEE FOR MTRC LOAN ****

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY GAVE ITS APPROVAL FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GRANT A GUARANTEE TO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION TO COVER THE REPAYMENT OF A $245 MILLION LOAN.

THE SUMS EORROWED UNDER THIS GUARANTEE WILL BE FINANCED UNDER A UK EXPORT CREDIT AND USED TO TAKE UP AN OPTION TO PURCHASE 70 ADDITIONAL RAILCARS FOR THE MTR TSUEN WAN EXTENSION.

THIS BRINGS GOVERNYENT'S TOTAL GUARANTEE COMMITMENT IN PESPECT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF LOANS AVAILABLE TO THE MTR CORPORATION TO 530 MILLICA.

CHANCE FOR PAK PAL OPERATORS

****

EXISTING AND BONA FIDE PAK PAI OPERATORS WOULD BE GIVEN AN CPPORTUNITY TO LEGALISE THEIR OPERATIONS UNDER THE PROPOSED ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HON DEREK JONES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

AND HE ADVISED ALL PAK PAI OPERATORS TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE, THEREAFTER, ALL ILLEGAL CARRYING AITHOUT A CONTRACT HIRE CAR PERMIT AND ALL PLYING AND SOLICITING FOR HIRE CR REWARDS EY VEHICLES OTHER THAN TAXIS WILL BE SUBJECT TO STIFFER LEGAL SANCTIONS, SUCH AS THE IMPOUNDING OF VEHICLES AND THE SUSPENSION OF VEHICLE LICENCES, IN ADDITION TO EXISTING PENALTIES.

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR JONES SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL WAS TO AUGMENT AND CLARIFY THE PROVISIONS FOR THE ISSUE OF CONTRACT HIRE CAR PERMITS WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE ENACTED IN JUNE 1977.

+THE BILL, BY SPELLING OUT THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ISSUE OF PERMITS, SEEKS TO PROVIDE SAFEGUARDS FOR THE CONTRACT HIRE CAR SCHEME WHEN IT IS BROUGHT FULLY INTO EFFECT TO ENSURE THAT THIS ORIGINAL PURPOSE IS MAINTAINED, HE SAID.

THE FILL MAKES PROVISION FOR THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL TO MAKE REGULATIONS WHEREBY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT MAY ISSUE, REFUSE TO ISSUE, OR CANCEL HIRE CAR PERMITS, AND TO SET LIMITS ON THE NUMBER OF PERMITS TO BE ISSUED FOR ANY TYPE OF HIRE CAR SERVICE.

+UNDER THE NEW DRAFT REGULATIONS IT IS INTENDED THAT DIFFERENT PERMITS ILL BE ISSUED FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICE. YAMELY HOTEL HIRE CARL TOUR HIRE CARS, AIRPORT HIRE CARS, SCHL HIRE CARS AND

HIRE CARS, + MF JONES SAID.

+THE PAUCITY ILL BE IN THE TWO LATTER CATEGORIES WHICH HAVE HITHERTO BEEN LARGELY SERVED BY PAK PAI OPERATORS.+

/THE PROPOSED