XN000022-1984-01-18 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1984

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'DIVISIVE PROPOSALS' NEED CAREFUL HANDLING

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DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI SAID THAT AT THIS MOMENT OF POLITICAL DELICACY IN HONG KONG, ANY LEGISLATIVE_PROPOSALS LIKELY TO BRING ABOUT A DIVISIVE EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE HANDLED CAREFULLY.

+FOR THE SMOOTH AND EFFICIENT IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY DECISIONS, THOROUGH CONSULTATION WITH PEOPLE WHO WILL BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED IS ESSENTIAL.

+ IN THIS RESPECT, THE VIEWS AND REACTIONS OF THE TAXI USERS AND TAXI OPERATORS SHOULD BE INVITED NOT ONLY ON THE BROAD PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY ON THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS ARISING FROM THE POLICY PROPOSALS, HE SAID.

+TAX AND FARE INCREASES IN TRANSPORT POLICY ARE BREAD-AND- BUTTER ISSUES, AND SHOULD WARRANT MORE WIDESPREAD PUBLIC CONSULTATION THAN THAT CONDUCTED IN THE CASE OF THESE TWO BILLS.+

DR HO SAID THAT HE DID NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE VIEW THAT TAXIS WERE A FORM OF PERSONALISED TRANSPORT AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE TREATED AS PRIVATE CARS.

+ IT IS TRUE THAT INCREASES IN PASSENGER PATRONAGE OF TAXIS BEING MORE THAN TWICE THAT OF ALL OTHER FORMS OF MASS PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE RECENT YEARS IS DUE TO THE LOW TAXI FARE STRUCTURE.

+BUT MORE SIGNIFICANT IS THE FACT THAT DEMAND FOR TAXIS CONTINUED TO GROW BECAUSE OTHER MODES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT ARE UNABLE TO MEET ALL TRAVELLING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

HE LISTED THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE TO WHOM TAXIS ARE THEIR ONLY MEANS OF TRAVELLING,

+TAXIS ARE THEREFORE NOT MERELY SUPPLEMENTING, BUT COMPLEMENTING OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN PERFORMING AN IMPORTANT ROLE OF KEEPING HONG KONG MOVING.

+IN ADDITION, IN MANY PARTS OF THE TERRITORY, TAXIS ARE RENDERING A VERY MUCH NEEDED FEEDER SERVICE IN LINKING UP MAJOR TRANSPORT INTERCHANGES,+ HE OBSERVED.

ON THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED INCREASES, DR HO SAID, +THESE BILLS IF ENACTED WILL CREATE A FINANCIAL BURDEN FAR TOO HEFTY AND FAR TOO DRASTIC FOR THE TAXI OPERATORS RESULTING IN A THREAT TO THEIR LIVELIHOOD.+

+ INCREASE IN TAXATION MUST BE GRADUAL AND CONGRUENT TO THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF THE TRADE CONCERNED, SUDDEN HUGE INCREASES WILL LEAD TO RESISTANCE, AS HAPPENED IN THIS CASE, HE ADDED.

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