XN000022-1982-09-22 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1982

FIXED PENALTY FOR PARKING OFFENCES TO BE INCREASED

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THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AN INCREASE IN THE FIXED PENALTY FINE FOR PARKING OFFENCES TO $140 TO MAINTAIN ITS DETERRENT VALUE.

IF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AGREES WITH THE PROPOSAL, THE NEW FINE WILL BE INTRODUCED AFTER APRIL, 1983 WHEN THE REVISED TICKETS AND RELATED COMPUTER PROGRAMME ARE EXPECTED TO BE READY FOR USE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT ALTHOUGH THE EXISTING FINE OF $70 WAS INTRODUCED IN JULY 1980 IT WAS CALCULATED HAVING REGARD TO PRICE LEVELS IN 1978.

IN 1978, SOME 983 000 PARKING TICKETS WERE ISSUED AND THE YEARLY FIGURE GREW BY 20 PER CENT IN 1979 BUT DROPPED TO 9 PER CENT IN 1980.

THE GROWTH RATE ROSE AGAIN LAST YEAR TO 27 PER CENT WHEN A TOTAL OF SOME 1 639 000 TICKETS WERE ISSUED, AND THE MOMENTUM CONTINUED INTO THIS YEAR, WITH SOME 835 000 TICKETS ISSUED IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS.

IT WOULD APPEAR THAT RAISING THE FINE, AS IN 1980, REDUCES THE INCIDENCE OF MOTORISTS CONTRAVENING THE PARKING REGULATIONS AND THE CURRENT HIGH FIGURE SHOWS THAT THE REGULATIONS ARE AGAIN BEING EXTENSIVELY IGNORED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE INCREASE IS INTENDED TO REDUCE THE GROWTH IN ILLEGAL PARK ING THE CONGESTION IT CAUSES, AND INCONVENIENCE TO OTHER ROAD USERS, HE SAID.

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS DETERRENT MEASURE, THE GOVERNMENT IS EMBARKING ON A COMPREHENSIVE CAR PARK BUILDING PROGRAMME WHICH WILL GREATLY SPEED UP THE PROVISION OF OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES.

A TOTAL OF 88 SITES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY HAS BEEN RESERVED FOR MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK DEVELOPMENT AND THE FIRST EIGHT SITES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE SIX-MONTH LAND SALES PROGRAMME UP TO THE END OF MARCH NEXT YEAR. THESE SITES COVER KWUN TONG, KOWLOON BAY, SHA TIN, TAI PO, TUEN MUN AND SAI KUNG,

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