XN000022-1982-12-08 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1982

NEED FOR SUPERVISION IN SCHOOL BUSES RECOGNISED

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THE ADVANTAGES OF YOUNG CHILDREN BEING SUPERVISED IN SCHOOL BUSES SEEM GENERALLY RECOGNISED BY PARENTS AND KINDERGARTENS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT SAID TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP ABOUT SUPERVISION OF YOUNG CHILDREN TRAVELLING IN LICENSED MINIBUSES, MR SCOTT SAID THAT A RECENT SAMPLE SURVEY SHOWED THAT THREE QUARTERS OF THE KINDERGARTENS SAMPLED DO PROVIDE SUPERVISION FOR THE CHILDREN WHEN IN TRANSIT.

+THIS SEEMS REASONABLE ENOUGH, BUT AS I SAID ON NOVEMBER 24 IN THIS COUNCIL, GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ON THE ROADS,

+REGULAR LECTURES ARE GIVEN TO KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, WITH EMPHASIS ON CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOUR ON THE ROADS THEMSELVES.

+THE ASPECT OF BEHAVIOUR IN VEHICLES IN PARTICULAR SCHOOL BUSES, 1.E. PASSENGER SAFETY, WILL IN FUTURE BE GIVEN SOMEWHAT GREATER EMPHASIS.

+KINDERGARTEN SUPERVISORS WILL ALSO BE ADVISED OF THE IR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THIS CONNECTION,+ MR SCOTT SAID.

HE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THERE WERE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES IN PROVIDING PROPER ANCHORS FOR SEAT BELTS OR CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS IN MINIBUSES, AND SO THERE WERE NO PLANS TO REQUIRE CHILDREN TO BE THUS RESTRAINED IN MINIBUSES.

GOOD PROGRESS ON CONVEYANCING AND LAW OF PROPERTY BILL

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THE CONVEYANCING AND LAW OF PROPERTY BILL SHOULD BE READY FOR PRESENTATION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS' TIME, IF NO UNEXPECTED DIFFICULTIES ARE ENCOUNTERED. THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, THE HON. G.P. NAZARETH, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER WONG, MR NAZARETH EXPLAINED THAT THE LAW SOCIETY'S COMMENTS ON THE BILL WERE RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, AND THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS NEEDED TO MEET THE COMMENTS WERE PREPARED AND CIRCULATED IN MARCH.

IT WAS LATER FELT BY THOSE CONSULTED, INCLUDING THE LAW SOCIETY, THAT THE AMENDMENTS, CERTAIN OTHER RELATED MATTERS, AND GENERALLY THE FINAL SETTLING OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL INVOLVED COMPLEX AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS THAT COULD BEST BE RESOLVED BY A WORKING GROUP, HE SAID.

/THE WORKING