XN000022-1982-05-14 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1982

RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICES

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS GRANTED 27 LICENCES TO OPERATORS OF A NEW TYPE OF RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICES ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS LATEST SERVICE IS TO MEET THE TRANSPORT NEEDS OF OUTLYING RESIDENTIAL AREAS, ESPECIALLY PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS WITHOUT ADEQUATE BUS AND MAXICAB SERVICES,+ SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

APPLICATIONS WERE FIRST INVITED IN FEBRUARY AND 88 WERE RECEIVED. SIXTEEN HAVE BEEN REJECTED BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF ADEQUATE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT SERVICES.

THE REMAINING 45 APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECONSIDERED IN MID-JUNE,

+THIS IS BECAUSE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES MAY BE BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE PARTIAL ELECTRIFICATION OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, THE OPENING OF THE MTR TSUEN WAN EXTENSION AND THE ASSOCIATED RE- ORGANISATION OF BUS AND MAXICAB ROUTES IN SHA TIN AND TSUEN WAN.

+CHANGES IN THE TRAVEL PATTERN COULD THEREFORE BE EXPECTED AND FOR THIS REASON THE DEPARTMENT CONSIDERS IT MORE ADVISABLE TO RE-ASSESS THESE APPLICATIONS IN MID-JUNE WHEN THE DEMAND PATTERN WOULD HAVE SETTLED DOWN, THE SPOKESMAN SAID,

THE 27 OPERATORS GRANTED LICENCES WILL BE RUNNING THE FOLLOWING ROUTES

HONG KONG ISLAND

* POK FU LAM VILLAGE TO CENTRAL (MORNING PEAK ONLY)

CHARGING $80/MONTH.

* UPPER BAGUIO VILLAS TO CENTRAL (PEAK ONLY)

CHARGING $3.50/TRIP.

* LOWER BAGUIO VILLAS TO CENTRAL (PEAK ONLY)

CHARGING $3.50/TRIP.

* FORTRESS GARDEN TO CENTRAL/WAN CHAI (PEAK ONLY)

CHARGING $2/TRIP.

* FORTRESS GARDEN TO CAUSEWAY BAY (PEAK ONLY)

CHARGING $1/TRIP.

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POK FU LAM GARDENS TO CENTRAL/WAN CHAI (PEAK ONLY) CHARGING $65/MONTH.

KOWLOON

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HO MAN TIN TO WATERLOO MTR STATION (PEAK ONLY) CHARGING $1/TRIP.

NEW TERRITORIES