XN000022-1982-10-13 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1982

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BILL TO INTRODUCE TAXIS ON LANTAU

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THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, IF ENACTED, WOULD PROVIDE NEEDED TAXI SERVICES ON LANTAU AND IMPROVE THE OPERATING EFFICIENCY OF TRANSPORT TRIBUNALS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL SUEN, SAID IN MOVING THE BILL THROUGH A SECOND READING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.

AT PRESENT THE ONLY LEGAL PASSENGER CAR SERVICE ON LANTAU IS PROVIDED BY 14 PRIVATE CONTRACT CARS AND THE PROPOSED TAXI SERVICE IS REQUIRED TO MEET THE GROWING DEMANDS OF BOTH LOCAL RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS, MR SUEN EXPLAINED.

UNDER THE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS, HE POINTED OUT, THESE NEW TAXIS WOULD OPERATE ON LANTAU ONLY, WITH A DISTINGUISHING LIVERY SPECIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT.

HE SAID THAT THE RIGHT TO REGISTER THESE TAXIS WOULD BE BY OPEN TENDER AND THE SCALE OF FARES WOULD BE THE SAME AS FOR NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS.

+TIME WILL BE REQUIRED TO ASSESS ACCURATELY HOW MANY TAXIS WILL EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED ON LANTAU ISLAND ESPECIALLY AS DEMANDS WILL FLUCTUATE BETWEEN WEEKDAYS AND WEEKENDS.

+SO IT IS INTENDED THAT THE NUMBER SHOULD INITIALLY BE LIMITED TO 20 AND BE REVIEWED AFTER SIX MONTHS, MR SUEN SAID.

THE OPPORTUNITY WAS TAKEN TO ABOLISH THE REQUIREMENT THAT APPLICANTS FOR NEW TERRITORIES TAXI LICENCES MUST HAVE HELD A DRIVING LICENCE FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS AS THIS REQUIREMENT NO LONGER SERVES ANY USEFUL PURPOSE, MR SUEN POINTED OUT.

THE TERMS OF THE EXISTING LEGISLATION REQUIRE A TRANSPORT TRIBUNAL TO CONSIDER ONLY THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE APPLICANT AND NOT THOSE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT.

HOWEVER, IN PRACTICE, THE COMMISSIONER IS REPRESENTED BY A DEPARTMENTÁL OFFICER TO STATE HIS CASE IN A TRIBUNAL, WHICH MAKES ITS DECISION ON ALL THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED.

BY PROVIDING FOR THE COMMISSIONER TO BE REPRESENTED BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL, THE BILL SEEKS TO FORMALISE THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF A TRIBUNAL HEARING BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE, MR SUEN EXPLAINED.

THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A MEMBER FROM A PANEL OF LEGAL ADVISERS APPOINTED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO A TRANSPORT TRIBUNAL,

+THIS WILL SERVE TO ENSURE THAT THE COMPLEX LEGISLATION WITHIN THE TRIBUNAL'S JURISDICTION IS PROPERLY INTERPRETED AND APPLIED,+ MR SUEN SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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