XN000022-1981-06-24 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1981

FERRY FARES GO UP NEXT MONTH

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A GENERAL INCREASE IN FARES ON FERRY SERVICES OF THE +STAR+ FERRY COMPANY AND THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY, EFFECTIVE FROM JULY 1, 1981.

PASSENGER FARES ON THE MAIN +STAR+ FERRY SERVICE FROM

EDINBURGH PLACE TO TSIM SHA TSUI WILL BE INCREASED.

FIRST CLASS FARES WILL BE RAISED FROM 50 CENTS TO 60 CENTS FOR ADULTS AND FROM 30 CENTS TO 40 CENTS FOR CHILDREN, AND SECOND CLASS FARES FOR BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN FROM 30 CENTS TO 40 CENTS.

MONTHLY TICKET CHARGES WILL RISE FROM $22.50 TO $27 FOR ADULTS, AND FROM $11.30 TO $15 FOR CHILDREN.

THE FARES AND CHARGES ON MOST FERRY SERVICES OF THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY WILL ALSO BE RAISED,

FOR CROSS-HARBOUR SERVICES, THE INCREASES ARE FROM 60 CENTS TO 80 CENTS FOR ADULTS, AND 30 CENTS TO 40 CENTS FOR CHILDREN, FOR OUTLYING DISTRICTS AND TOLO HARBOUR SERVICES, THE INCREASES ARE GENERALLY 20 TO 33 PER CENT. THUS A $1 FARE WILL BECOME $1.30 AND A $4 FARE BECOMES $5.

INCREASES IN FREIGHT CHARGES WILL BE OF THE SAME PERCENTAGE A CHARGE OF 40 CENTS WILL BECOME 50 CENTS, AND A CHARGE OF $2.50 BECOMES $3.20.

FOR PRIVATE CARS AND TAXIS USING THE VEHICULAR FERRY SERVICE, THE CHARGES WILL BE INCREASED FROM $3 TO $4, AND GOODS VEHICLES FROM $10 AND $15 TO $11 AND $16 ACCORDING TO WEIGHT.

IN MOVING THE MOTION THAT THE +STAR+ FERRY COMPANY (SERVICES) ORDINANCE BE AMENDED, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HON JOHN TODD POINTED OUT THE MAIN REASON FOR THE INCREASES IS TO OFFSET RISING COSTS, PARTICULARLY WAGES AND FUEL COSTS, AND TO ENSURE A REASONABLE LEVEL OF PROF ITABILITY IN 1981 AND 1982.

HE ESTIMATED THAT POST-TAX PROFITS OF THE COMPANY IN 1981 AND 1982 WOULD BE ABOUT $3.6 MILLION AND $5.1 MILLION, COMPARED WITH AN AVERAGE OVER THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS OF ABOUT $4 MILLION.

+ IT IS HOPED THAT NO FURTHER INCREASE IN FARES WILL BE NECESSARY UNTIL 1983 OR EVEN EARLY 1984, + HE ADDED.

EXPLAINING THE