XN000022-1984-05-16 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1984

KCRC STAFF FULLY CAPABLE - SIR JOHN

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THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION HAD BUILT UP A NEW MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE FULLY CAPABLE OF OPERATING THE MODERN RAILWAY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE SAID TODAY.

TABLING THE KCRC'S ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 1983 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT THE TRANSFER OF 1 460 EX-KCR DEPARTMENTAL STAFF TO THE CORPORATION TOOK PLACE SMOOTHLY ON MAY 1 LAST YEAR.

THE CORPORATION'S PROGRAMME FOR ELECTRIFICATION AND MODERNISATION WAS NOW LARGELY COMPLETED, HE SAID.

+DAILY PATRONAGE GREW FROM 40 000 TO 100 000 AFTER ELECTRIFICATION TO TAI PO; TO 140 000 AFTER FULL ELECTRIFICATION; AND REMARKABLY STOOD AT 190 000 AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS 30 PER CENT HIGHER THAN FORECAST,+ SIR JOHN SAID.

+THE MID-1980'S TARGET OF 250 000 IS WITHIN REACH,+ HE SAID.

+ IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES A LOSS OF $154 MILLION CAN BE REGARDED

AS BUT A FIRST STEP TOWARDS A PROFITABLE RAILWAY. +

ON THE TUEN MUN LRT SYSTEM, HE SAID THAT THE CORPORATION WAS INVITED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN NOVEMBER 1983 TO BECOME THE OWNER-OPERATOR OF THE SYSTEM.

ITS DECISION WAS AWAITED WITH INTEREST, SIR JOHN SAID.

SUPPORT SOUGHT FOR SEAFARERS' CONVENTION

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HONG KONG HAS ALWAYS FOLLOWED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ON THE SAFETY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY AT SEA, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IT WAS THEREFORE CONSISTENT WITH HONG KONG'S PRACTICE TO COMPLY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS, WHICH CAME INTO FORCE INTERNATIONALLY ON APRIL 28, MR JACOBS SAID.

THE CONVENTION PRESCRIBES RECOGNISED STANDARDS FOR THE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OF SEAFARERS, INCLUDING OFFICERS AND RATINGS, WHO ARE INVOLVED IN WATCHKEEPING DUTIES, HE SAID, MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT BILL 1984.

IF THE