XN000022-1984-01-18 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1984

HE POINTED OUT THERE WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN THE FINAL OPINION OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN WHICH THERE IS A CLEAR MAJORITY OF UNOFFICIALS.

+THIS COUNCIL IS THE ULTIMATE SAFEGUARD IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE TO MISJUDGE WHAT IS POLITICALLY ACCEPTABLE IN HONG KONG,

+FOR THESE REASONS, I THEREFORE SEE TODAY'S EVENTS NOT AS A LOSS OF FACE FOR OFFICIALS BUT RATHER AS A VINDICATION OF THE SYSTEM, ITS EFFECTIVENESS, AND ABOVE ALL ITS READY RESPONSE TO THE POLITICAL MOOD AND JUDGEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, MR THOMAS STRESSED.

LEGISLATION AIMED AT IMPROVEMENTS FOR EVERYONE

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THE PROPOSED TAXI LEGISLATION WAS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EVERYONE, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+ IN ITS IMPACT ON THE TAXI USERS IT WAS ASSESSED AS ACCEPTABLE BOTH AS TO THE STANDARD OF SERVICE AND IN THE INCREASE IN CHARGES,+ HE SAID. IN ITS IMPACT ON TAXI OPERATORS IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT INCOME GENERATED BY INCREASED FARES WOULD BOTH RESTORE PROFITABILITY TO FORMER LEVELS AND COVER INCREASED TAXATION.

MR BRAY SAID THAT LITTLE OF WHAT HAD BEEN SAID IN THE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON HAD THROWN DOUBT ON THE WISDOM OF THESE AIMS.

ON THE EXTENT AND FORCE OF THE REACTION BY TAXI OPERATORS, MR BRAY SAID THAT IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THEY WOULD EXPRESS A GOOD DEAL OF OPPOSITION AND TAKE STRONG ACTION TO PRESS THEIR VIEWS. BUT # + IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE EXTENT OF THE TRAFFIC DISRUPTION WAS OBVIOUS FOR ALL TO SEE THAT ANYBODY BEGAN TO SAY, WITH COMMENDABLE HINDSIGHT, THAT STOPPAGE OF SERVICE WAS AN INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF THE MEASURES PROPOSED.+

HE SAID THAT THE MEASURES WERE BASED ON AN EXTENSIVE STUDY WHICH SHOWED THAT TAXIS WERE NOT ESSENTIAL CARRIERS IN THE CONTEXT OF A VASTLY IMPROVED TRANSPORT SYSTEM, AND WERE AN INCREASING CAUSE OF CONGESTION.

THIS DEVELOPING TREND COULD NOT CONTINUE INDEFINITELY WITHOUT UNACCEPTABLE CONSEQUENCES IN TERMS OF INCREASING CONGESTION FOR THE GREAT MASS OF USERS OF TRANSPORT FACILITIES, HE ADDED.

HE REVIEWED REACTION TO THE BILLS AND THE REASONS FOR IT BEFORE GIONG ON TO DETAIL THE PUBLIC INFORMATION EFFORT THAT HAD BEEN MADE.

FINALLY, SAID MR BRAY : +1 DO THINK THAT OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT HAS A REMARKABLY GOOD RECORD OF NOT BEHAVING SO RECKLESSLY AS TO DAMAGE THOSE PROVIDING IMPORTANT SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF FEELING EXPRESSED BY THE TAXI OPERATORS AND REFLECTED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE THAT THESE MEASURES SHOULD NOW BE RE-EXAMINED. +

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