XN000022-1983-07-21 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1983

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM IS TO MONITOR, WITHOUT ACTUALLY SUPERVISING, THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANIES CONCERNED.

+WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THEY ARE PRIVATE COMPANIES BUT SUBJECT TO PROF IT CONTROL SCHEMES, HE SAID.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE ALL SENSIBLE MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM REMAINED RESPONSIVE TO THE DEMANDS OF RISING EXPECTATIONS, AND TO THE MOVEMENTS OF POPULATION IN HONG KONG, AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, WHILE KEEPING FARES AT ACCEPTABLE LEVELS.

DISCUSSING THE THIRD OBJECTIVE - THE MOST ECONOMIC USE OF THE ROAD NETWORK -- MR SCOTT SAID PERHAPS TOO MUCH HAD BEEN SAID

BUT HE RECENTLY ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING PILOT STAGE. NOTED THAT MOST COMMENTATORS SEEMED TO HAVE ACCEPTED THE RATIONAL BASIS OF THE PROPOSITION AND WERE PREPARED TO AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF THE PILOT STAGE.

+ IT IS STRANGE THAT THIS PILOT STAGE IS ATTACKED, OFTEN IRRATIONALLY, BY PEOPLE WHO BOAST OF THEIR OWN COMMERCIAL JUDGMENT AND THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE RISKS AS THE BASIS OF HONG KONG'S SUCCESS; THEY CRITICISE THE GOVERNMENT FOR BEING A NEGATIVE BUREAUCRACY, AND THEN TURN ROUND AND CRITICISE A PROPOSAL WHICH HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF AUTHORITIES CONCERNED WITH TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

+LET ME JUST ADD THAT WE SHALL GO ON RESPONDING FACTUALLY AND CAREFULLY TO ALL ENQUIRIES, HE SAID.

MR SCOTT ALSO ATTACHED IMPORTANCE TO THE VIEWS CHANNELLED THROUGH DISTRICT BOARDS ON GOVERNMENT'S TRANSPORT POLICY.

HE SAID MOST ADVICE IS EITHER ACCEPTED IN POLICY TERMS AND SUBJECT TO RESOURCES, OR RUNS PARALLEL WITH CURRENT PROPOSALS AND IDEAS.

BUT INEVITABLY, HE SAID, EITHER IN THE LIGHT OF PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT OR BECAUSE OF THE WIDER IMPLICATION OF PARTICULAR DISTRICT LEVEL PROPOSALS, THE GOVERNMENT SOMETIMES CANNOT ACCEPT AND TAKE FORWARD A PROPOSAL.

+1 ALWAYS URGE MY STAFF IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES TO TAKE PARTICULAR CARE TO EXPLAIN GOVERNMENT'S POSITION AND IF AT ALL POSSIBLE TO MOVE TOWARDS THE DISTRICT BOARD'S POSITION, MR SCOTT SAID, BUT WITH THE BEST WILL IN THE WORLD, IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE.+

+AGAINST THAT, WE MUST SET THE MANY TIMES WHEN ADVICE IS ACCEPTED AND IMPLEMENTED. THE PART WHICH DISTRICT BOARDS PLAY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW, TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL CONCERNED, HE ADDED.