XN000022-1981-12-09 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1981

DRIVING OFFENCE POINTS

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THE TEMPORARY DEFERMENT OF THE NEW DRIVING OFFENCE POINTS SYSTEM WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR ALAN ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT, REPORTED THAT SINCE PUBLICATION OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING OFFENCE POINTS) BILL AT THE BEGINNING OF JULY 1981, DISCUSSIONS HAD SEEN CONTINUING WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO LOOK AT THE PROPOSED SYSTEM IN DETAIL TO ENSURE THAT IT WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE BUT FAIR DETERRENT AGAINST BAD DRIVING BEHAVIOUR.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE REASON FOR THE DEFERRAL WAS THAT A MAJOR UPDATING OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE WAS UNDERWAY. THIS WOULD BE GOING FORWARD IN THE NEW YEAR.

+SOME PARTS OF THE PENALTY POINTS SYSTEM ARE RELATED

TO THE MAIN ORDINANCE AND IT IS THEREFORE LOGICAL THAT THE MAIN BILL IS DEALT WITH FIRST, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE REASON FOR THE DELAY WAS A TECHNICAL ONE AND DID NOT INDICATE ANY CHANGE OF VIEW OF EITHER THE ADMINISTRATION OR THE UNOFFICIALS.

+ INDEED, UMELCO MEMBERS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE IN FAVOUR OF A DRIVING OFFENCE POINTS SYSTEM WHICH PROMOTES SAFETY ON THE ROAD AND DETERS PERSISTENTLY BAD DRIVING BEHAVIOUR,+ HE ADDED.

ELDERLY PATIENTS

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EIGHTY-TWO ELDERLY PATIENTS WERE LEFT IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS IN THE LAST 11 MONTHS, IT WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON E.P.HO, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, MR HO SAID THAT THE MEDICAL SOCIAL SERVICE AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TRIED TO PERSUADE THE FAMILIES TO TAKE BACK THE AGED PATIENTS RATHER THAN LEAVE THEM TO INSTITUTIONAL CARE.

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