XN000022-1983-01-25 — Page 3

2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1983

RECALIBRATION OF TAXI METERS

***

TO SIMPLIFY AND FACILITATE THE RECALIBRATION OF TAXI METERS, MINOR ADJUSTMENT WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE URBAN TAXI FARE SCALE ON A DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT.

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE 12.5 PER CENT INCREASE WHICH WAS APPROVED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

THE PURPOSE OF THE ADJUSTMENT IS TO MAKE THE RECALIBRATION OF TAX! METERS CHEAPER AND QUICKER IN THIS CASE WITHIN SIX MONTHS.

THE FARE WILL STILL BE $4.50 FOR THE FIRST TWO KILOMETRES, €0 CENTS FOR EVERY SUBSEQUENT 266.66 METRES, INSTEAD OF THE PRESENT SCALE OF 90 CENTS FOR EVERY 400 METRES.

HE ADDED THAT SINCE THE NEW MEASURE IS A TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENT, THE CONVERSION TABLE IN CURRENT USE WILL REMAIN VALID UNTIL THE RECALIBRATION OF TAXI METERS.

LABOUR LAW OFFENCES

***

A TOTAL OF 660 PROSECUTION CASES FOR BREACHES OF LABOUR LAWS TAKEN OUT BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT RESULTED IN COURT CONVICTIONS LAST (DECEMBER) MONTH, WITH FINES EXCEEDING $539 000.

MOST OF THE CASES CONCERNED BREACHES OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS VARIOUS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS, THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS.

CASES CONCERNING VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY REGULATIONS TOTALLED 13, WITH $306 056 IN FINES, THESE INCLUDED 100 CASES (WITH $127 100 IN FINES) FOR BREACH OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS AND 70 CASES (WITH $120 100 IN FINES) FOR BREACH OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS,

CASES RELATING TO BREACHES OF THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS TOTALLED 319, WITH $172 450 IN FINES.

OF THE OTHER PROSECUTIONS, 23 CASES CONCERNED FAILURE TO KEEP RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES, LEADING TO $12 050 IN FINES.

13