XN000022-1982-04-30 — Page 4

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1982

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NEW FERRY SERVICES BILL PLANNED

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THE GOVERNMENT GAVE NOTICE IN THE GAZETTE TODAY OF ITS INTENTION TO INTRODUCE A NEW FERRY SERVICES BILL 1982 INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEEK.

THIS BILL IS DESIGNED TO BRING TOGETHER INTO ONE ENACTMENT ALL OF THE TRANSPORT, FRANCHISE AND LICENSING ASPECTS OF THE LAW RELATING TO FERRY OPERATIONS.

IF IT IS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL, SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO REQUIRE THE FERRY OPERATORS TO DISPLAY NOTICES OF THEIR SERVICES AND TO GIVE THEM ADEQUATE POWERS TO STOP IMPROPER BEHAVIOUR OF PASSENGERS.

THE LAW GOVERNING THESE OPERATIONS IS AT PRESENT CONTAINED IN THREE SEPARATE ORDINANCES THE FERRIES ORDINANCE, THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY (SERVICES) ORDINANCE, AND THE +STAR+ FERRY COMPANY (SERVICES) ORDINANCE.

IN ADDITION TO THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THESE EXISTING ORDINANCES THE NEW BILL SEEKS TO EXTEND CONTROLS OVER THE PROVISION OF A PROPER AND EFFICIENT SERVICE BY THE FRANCHISED FERRY OPERATORS, AND ALSO TO REQUIRE CONSULTATION BETWEEN THEM AND THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE FORWARD PLANNING OF THE IR ROUTES AND SERVICES.

IT ALSO SEEKS TO PROVIDE FOR NEW FRANCHISES FOR THESE OPERATORS, TO COME INTO EFFECT AFTER THE CURRENT FRANCHISES EXPIRE AT THE END OF JUNE THIS YEAR, DETAILS OF THE NEW FRANCHISES ARE NOW UNDER DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT, THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY AND THE +STAR+ FERRY COMPANY.

UNDER THE FERRY SERVICES BILL, THE TWO MAJOR FERRY COMPANIES WILL BE GIVEN FRANCHISES WHICH MAY BE EXTENDED TO 15 YEARS AT ANY ONE TIME.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT ONE OF THE CONDITIONS TO ANY EXTENSION WOULD BE WHETHER THE COMPANY WAS CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING A PROPER AND EFFICIENT SERVICE.

THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE ABLE TO APPOINT UP TO TWO DIRECTORS TO THE BOARD OF THE COMPANY TO GIVE IT APPROPRIATE INFORMATION AND ADVICE AND TO OBTAIN FULL KNOWLEDGE OF ITS ACTIVITIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE COMPANY WILL BE REQUIRED TO PREPARE AN ANNUAL FIVE-YEAR PLAN WHICH WILL BE USED TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND IF THE PLAN CANNOT BE AGREED BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT WILL ARBITRATE.

FURTHERMORE, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WILL BE EMPOWERED TO GIVE DIRECTIONS TO THE COMPANY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS NOT COVERED BY FORWARD PLANNING AND TO DEAL WITH MATTERS NOT AGREED WITH THE COMPANY.

/TRE COMPANY *****