XN000022-1981-10-13 — Page 2

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1981

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON BUS SERVICE INVITED

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MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE INVITED TODAY (TUESDAY) TO SUBMIT THEIR VIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE GOVERNMENT TEAMS CONDUCTING THE CURRENT REVIEW OF BUS OPERATIONS,

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID FOLLOWING AN APPEAL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, A TOTAL OF 47 SUBMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED.

+THIS RESPONSE WAS MOST ENCOURAGING CONSIDERING THAT THIS WAS AT THE INITIAL STAGE OF THE REVIEW, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED. +WITH THE SUBSEQUENT PUBLICITY GIVEN TO THE PROGRESS OF THE REVIEW AND THE SUBJECT MATTER INVOLVED, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOW ALSO WISH TO COMMENT.+

THE REVIEW BEGAN IN MAY WITH THE SETTING UP OF AN INTER- DEPARTMENTAL CO-ORDINATING GROUP TO LOOK INTO WAYS FOR ECONOMIES IN BUS OPERATIONS TO BE MADE, WITH DUE REGARD TO ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF SERVICE AND PASSENGER SAFETY.

UNDER EXAMINATION ARE THE ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES BUS MAINTENANCE, DEPOT REQUIREMENTS, SPARE PARTS AND PROFIT CONTROL SCHEMES OF THE TWO MAJOR BUS COMPANIES.

FOLLOWING THE COLLECTION OF EXTENSIVE DATA, SITE VISITS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH COMPANY OFFICIALS, THE FIVE SUB-GROUPS CARRYING OUT THE DETAILED WORK IN THESE AREAS ARE COMPLETING THE IR REPORTS ON THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY. THEY ARE NOW ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF STUDYING THE OPERATIONS OF THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY.

THE WORK OF THESE SUB-GROUPS IS STEERED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE RELEVANT SUBJECTS, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED THAT TEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OR WHO SAT ON DISTRICT BOARDS AND OTHER PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS, JOINED THE SUB-GROUPS IN JULY AT THE INVITATION OF THE GOVERNMENT.

HE SAID THE MEMBERS WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO HAD SUGGESTIONS ON HOW BUS SERVICES COULD BE IMPROVED.

WRITTEN COMMENTS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SECRETARY, REVIEW OF BUS OPERATIONS, ROOM 332, EAST WING, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.

VERBAL COMMENTS, AS WELL AS ENQUIRIES, CAN ALSO BE MADE BY TELEPHONING 5-776866.

ANYONE WISHING TO DISCUSS THEIR VIEWS WITH THE PUBLIC MEMBERS OF THE SUB-GROUPS MAY SEEK AN APPOINTMENT BY TELEPHONING 5-776866.

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/THE SPOKESMAN