XN000022-1984-01-18 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1984

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TAXI PROPOSALS SEEN AS UNREASONABLE BURDEN

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IT WAS THE UNANIMOUS VIEW OF THE UNOFFICIALS THAT THE PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS TO THE TAXI TRADE AS A WHOLE REPRESENTED AN UNREASONABLE BURDEN TO MANY TAXI OPERATORS AND DID NOT TAKE ADEQUATE ACCOUNT OF THE COMPLEX POSITION AND PROBLEMS OF THE TAXI TRADE, DR THE HON HARRY FANG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DR FANG HEADED A PARTY OF UNOFFICIALS WHO SPOKE AGAINST THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, AND THE ROAD TRAFFIC (REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984,

+IN THE HEAT OF THE SITUATION IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S FINDINGS AND INTENTIONS HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD, DR FANG SAID.

+BUT THERE IS MISUNDERSTANDING TOO ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S SIDE AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO SHOW THAT THE PROPOSED MEASURES ARE FAIR AND REASONABLE.

+ IN OUR VIEW THEY HAVE FAILED TO DO SO AND FOR THIS REASON THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THIS AFTERNOON PROPOSE TO OPPOSE THESE BILLS, HE ADDED.

HE OBSERVED THAT THERE WERE VALUABLE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED.

+THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION MISJUDGED THE IMPACT OF THE PACKAGE PROPOSALS AND THEIR RECEPTION BY THE TRADE.

+CONSENSUS SUPPORT IS CONTINUALLY STRESSED, AND RIGHTLY SO, AS THE STRENGTH OF OUR GOVERNMENT. THIS HAS NEVER PROVED MORE IMPORTANT THAN NOW, GIVEN OUR PRESENT DELICATE POSITION, HE SAID.

HE URGED THE ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE A SERIOUS RE-THINK OF THE ENTIRE PACKAGE, NOT AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS AND CAPITULATION BUT AS AN EARNEST INDICATION OF AN OPEN GOVERNMENT SENSITIVE TO PUBLIC REACTION AND EVER WILLING TO SEEK JUST AND FAIR SOLUTIONS TO WHATEVER PROBLEMS MIGHT CONFRONT THE COMMUNITY.

+IT SAYS MUCH FOR OUR STYLE OF GOVERNMENT THAT THE UNOFFICIALS OF THE COUNCIL CAN, THIS AFTERNOON, HAVE A MATERIAL SAY IN THE FUTURE OF THE TWO BILLS NOW BEFORE COUNCIL AND I HOPE THAT THE VALIDITY OF OUR RESERVATIONS WILL BE CLEAR TO ALL, HE SAID.

DR FANG THANKED THE ACTING GOVERNOR FOR HIS PROMPT DECISION, IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST OF THE UNOFFICIALS, TO CONVENE A SPECIAL SITTING THIS AFTERNOON TO RESUME THE DEBATE ON THE TWO BILLS.

HE SAID, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DISCUSS THE CIVIL DISORDER WHICH FOLLOWED IN THE WAKE OF THE TAXI-OPERATORS' AGITATION.

+1 EXPECT THERE WILL BE AN ENQUIRY AND I HOPE, IN DUE COURSE, A REPORT WILL BE MADE TO THIS COUNCIL.+

HE ADDED