XN000022-1984-01-18 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1984

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+TAX IS ARE A MEANS OF TRANSPORT WHICH MUST STRICKE A BALANCE AMONG SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WHO ARE PREPARED TO PAY SUITABLY FOR THE SERVICE, REASONABLE RETURN TO TAXI OWNERS AND DRIVERS WHOSE LIVELIHOOD AND EMPLOYMENT SHOULD BE BORNE IN MIND WITH DUE CONSIDERATION TO REDUCING CONGESTION OF OUR ROAD SYSTEM,

SAID.

+THIS IS A LONG-TERM TAXI POLICY WHICH I FULLY SUPPORT, HE

THE TWO BILLS, HE SAID WERE AIMED AT FULFILMENT OF THE LONG-TERM TAXI POLICY, BUT OVERLOOKED THE IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL

IMPLICATION AND BURDEN OF THE TAXI OWNERS AND DRIVERS WHO COULD NOT AFFORD THEM.

HE SAID HE WOULD WELCOME RE-INTRODUCTION OF THE BILLS IN A MORE MODERATE FORM ACCEPTABLE TO ALL PARTIES CONCERNED WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF THE LONG-TERM TAXI POLICY, WHICH HE SUPPORTED.

TAXI OPERATORS HAD VALID COMPLAINT

****

IN HONG KONG'S FREE ECONOMY, THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES OF PROFITABILITY FOR ANY BUSINESS, BUT TAXI OPERATORS HAD A VALID COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE INCREASES, THE HON K.C. CHAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+BEFORE TENDER ING FOR THE IR TAXIS THEY MUST HAVE DONE THE IR COSTING ON A SET OF KNOWN CONDITIONS, SUCH AS TENDER PRICE, CAPITAL AND RECURRENT EXPENSES.

→THE SUDDEN BIG INCREASE THROWS THE IR SUMS OUT OF BALANCE THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, HE SAID.

→PERHAPS, AT A GIVEN DATE ALL RECENTLY TENDERED TAX IS SHOULD BE REGISTERED AT THE OLD RATE AND THE NEXT LOT OF TAXI TENDER SHOULD BE GIVEN THE NEW RATE.

+THERE LIE THE TWO KEYS FOR A SOLUTION AND ANY AMENDMENTS OR FUTURE BILLS SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE HARDSHIPS OF THE TAXI TRADE AIRED RECENTLY, HE SAID.

HE STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT AS A WHOLE, AND ANY INDIVIDUAL, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILLS.

HE ALSO PRAISED THE POLICE AND OTHER DISCIPLINARY FORCES CONCERNED FOR THE IR PROFESSIONALISM IN HANDLING THE RIOTS AND THE TAXI DRIVERS FOR BEING SO SENSIBLE IN QUICK DISPERSAL OF THEIR TAXIS DURING THE RIOT.

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