WEDNESDAY, JUNE
+I AM SURE MANY WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT IT WOULD BE BLATANTLY UNJUST NOT TO OFFER SOME FORM OF CONCESSION FOR SUCH PERSONS AS REGARDS FIRST REGISTRATION TAX, SAID DR FANG.
THE HON PETER C. WONG SAID THE PACKAGE PROPOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT IS CERTAINLY NOT A PANACEA, NOR IS IT WITHOUT SHORTCOMINGS+.
HOWEVER, HE AGREED THAT IT WAS RELATIVELY SIMPLE TO ADMINISTER AND AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM WOULD HAVE SOME DETERRENT EFFECT.
+OTHER OPTIONS MUST CONTINUE TO BE EXAMINED AND, MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, GREATER EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM.
+THESE TASKS WOULD REQUIRE NOT ONLY EXPERTISE BUT ALSO IMAGINATION AND FIRM ACTION.
+AS WITH THE FORMULATION OF OTHER POLICIES, GOVERNMENT WILL NO DOUBT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE PUBLIC,+ HE SAID.
THE HON WONG LAM AGREED, BUT WITH RESERVATIONS, THAT THE PROPOSAL TO RESTRAIN THE GROWTH RATE OF PRIVATE CARS SHOULD BE ADOPTED AS AN EXPEDIENT MEASURE.
HOWEVER, HE CONSIDERED THAT THE CURRENT PROPOSALS WERE, STRICTLY SPEAKING, DIRECTED AT RESTRAINING OWNERSHIP RATHER THAN USAGE.
+BASICALLY, INCREASES IN FIRST REGISTRATION TAX AND ANNUAL LICENCE FEES ARE NOT RELATED TO USAGE.
+ONLY THE INCREASE IN THE DUTY ON LIGHT OILS DIRECTLY AFFECTS USAGE BUT, AS A RESTRAINT, IT IS LESS EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF INCREASING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF CAR OWNERS.
+THIS IS THE MAIN REASON FOR MY RESERVATIONS ON GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS FOR RESTRAINING THE GROWTH OF PRIVATE CARS, SAID MR WONG.
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR FAIRER AND MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS WHICH SHOULD BE DIRECTED AT CURBING USAGE RATHER THAN OWNERSHIP.
+MEASURES LIKE MORE EFFICIENT CONTROL OF ROAD TRAFFIC, DEVELOPMENT OF OFF-ROAD PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS AND BETTER OPERATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT ON THE ROADS WILL CERTAINLY ACHIEVE POSITIVE RESULTS.
+THESE MEASURES ALONE MAY NOT PRODUCE MUCH EFFECT, AND THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT IS NOT VERY OPTIMISTIC EITHER, BUT COUPLED WITH THE TAX INCREASES, THEY COULD ACHIEVE RESULTS BETTER THAN THE GOVERNMENT WOULD EXPECT, HE ADDED.
DR THE HON HO KAM-FA! SUGGESTED THAT MORE POSITIVE AND BETTER CO-ORDINATED MEASURES SHOULD BE PUT INTO OPERATION SIMULTANEOUSLY IN ORDER TO MAXIMISE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CONGESTION- REDUCING EFFORTS.
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