XN000022-1982-06-02 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY No 2.

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AS FOR NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS, PRIVATE CARS ARE A NECESSITY OF LIFE AND TO DEPRIVE THEM OF OWNING A PRIVATE CAR IS SIMPLY TO IMMOBILIZE THEM WHICH WILL SERIOUSLY AFFECT THEIR WAY OF LIFE, THEIR EAR.ING CAPABILITY AND STANDARD OF LIVING.

MR YEUNG ALSO CRITICISED THE DIFFERENTIAL RATES OF FIRST REGISTRATION TAX.

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HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE HIGHER THE VALUE OF A VEHICLE. THE HIGHER THE RATE OF TAX, AND SAID +WE MUST BEAR IN MIND THAT EVEN IF THE SAME RATE OF INCREASE OF TAX IS LEVIED ON ALL CARS, A BRITISH MADE JAGUAR WILL HAVE TO PAY FOUR TIMES MORE TAX THAN A COMPARABLE SIZED JAPANESE MADE TOYOTA, THOUGH THEY USE THE SAME ROAD SPACE AND SHARE EQUAL BLAME FOR CONGESTION.+

THE INCREASE OF TAX ON CAR FUEL ALSO WORKED VERY UNFAIRLY ON NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS, SAID MR YEUNG.

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HE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THESE PEOPLE FARMERS, FISHERMEN, TRADESMEN, HOUSEWIVES AND WORKERS ALIKE -- AS THE FAMILIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE USA, NEEDED A CAR TO JOURNEY FAR TO RUN THEIR DAILY BUSINESS, THEY DID NOT CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CONGESTION OF URBAN ROADS.

+THIS BILL HAS THEREFORE FAILED TO RECOGNISE THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS AND ATTEMPTED TO RESORT TO A MEASURE WHICH CAN NEITHER BY ITSELF DETER ROAD USAGE NOR DO JUSTICE TO THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND UPON CARS AS THE ESSENTIAL MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.

+UNLESS THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM IS TACKLED AS A WHOLE FROM ALL ANGLES AND PROGRAMMES ARE CARRIED OUT AS PLANNED, THIS MINI-PACKAGE DIRECTING SOLELY AT PRIVATE CAR OWNERS CAN NEITHER SOLVE THE PROBLEM NOR DO JUSTICE TO OUR CONCEPT OF EQUITY+, SAID MR YEUNG.

ARGUING AGAINST THE BILLS, MRS SELINA CHOW EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE WAY IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAD CHOSEN TO ARRIVE AT THE MEASURES PROPOSED.

WHILE AGREEING THAT ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE PROPOSED PACKAGE WAS NECESSARY TO AVOID AN ONSLAUGHT OF REGISTRATION AND RENEWAL OF LICENCES. SHE CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR FAILING TO INVOLVE MOTORISTS IN THE BROAD DISCUSSION OF WHICH MEASURES THEY WOULD PREFER, SHOULD CONTROL BE NECESSARY.

+THERE HAS BEEN TOO LITTLE PUBLIC DEBATE ON THE ISSUE, AND GOVERNMENT HAS CERTAINLY NOT ENCOURAGED IT, SHE SAID.

+CONSULTATION ACROSS THE BOARD SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED.

THERE ARE ALREADY AFTER ALL, WE ARE NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE FUTURE. 217 000 CÁR OWNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

+I SUSPECT A LARGE PROPORTION OF THESE ARE QUITE PREPARED TO ACCEPT MEASURES OTHER THAN FISCAL ONES PROVIDED THEY ARE FAIR AND EASY TO COMPLY WITH.+