XN000022-1984-03-29 — Page 34

"HURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984

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AS PART OF THE SCHEME, A NUMBER OF FOOTBRIDGES WILL BE BUILT TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING OF CONNAUGHT ROAD.

IN THE LONG TERM, A NEW WATERFRONT ROAD THROUGH CENTRAL IS RECOMMENDED, CONNECTING THE ELEVATED ROAD TO BE PROVIDED AS PART OF THE UPGRADED CONNAUGHT ROAD SCHEME WITH THE PROPOSED WAN CHAI BYPASS.

THIS WATERFRONT ROAD WOULD RUN BETWEEN RUMSEY STREET AND THE H.M.S. TAMAR AREA AND MOST OF ITS LENGTH WOULD BE IN SUBMERGED TUNNEL.

NEW FRANCHISE FOR HYF ***

THE GOVERNMENT HAS GRANTED THE HONGKONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY A NEW FRANCHISE UNDER THE FERRY SERVICES ORDINANCE.

ANNOUNCING THIS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE FRANCHISE WOULD TAKE EFFECT FROM APRIL 1 AND ITS DETAILS WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

HYF'S PREVIOUS FRANCHISE EXPIRED ON JUNE 30, 1982. FROM JULY 1, 1983, THE HYF OPERATED UNDER A TEMPORARY LICENCE GRANTED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO ENABLE IT TO CONTINUE ITS FERRY OPERATION WHILE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A NEW FRANCHISE CONTINUED.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IN RETURN FOR THE FRANCHISE, THE HYF WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THE FRANCHISE, AND ALSO TO OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR:

(A) THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO SET MAXIMUM FARE LEVELS; (B) THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO SPECIFY FREQUENCY

OF SERVICES, CARRYING CAPACITY AND TYPES OF VESSELS; AND

(c) THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT ADDITIONAL DIRECTORS TO THE

BOARD OF THE HYF.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE FRANCHISE ALLOWED THE HYF TO USE SPECIFIED PIERS, TO HAVE ACCESS TO AND USE AREAS OF CROWN LAND ADJACENT TO THE PIERS, AND TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PIERS AND THE CROWN LAND AREAS.

THE COMPANY WOULD HAVE TO PAY A MONTHLY RENTAL FOR USING THESE PIERS.

IF THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD AUTHORISE THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF ANY OF THESE PIERS, THE COMPANY WOULD HAVE FIRST OPTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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