XN000022-1984-06-25 — Page 3

MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1984

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+1 AM SURE MANY PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS ALSO ACCEPT THAT ADVANCES IN MODERN TECHNOLOGY REQUIRE, NEW SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES IN THE HANDLING OF HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES, AND, ESPECIALLY, ARTICULATED GOODS VEHICLES, HE SAID.

THE NEW LAW WILL EMPOWER THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO REQUIRE ANY DRIVING INSTRUCTOR WHOM THE COMMISSIONER CONSIDERS TO BE NOT UP TO STANDARD, TO BE RETESTED.

+ HOWEVER, THIS POWER WILL NOT BE USED LIGHTLY,

MR SO SAID.

TO HELP DRIVING INSTRUCTORS KEEP UP WITH DRIVING TECHNIQUES AND TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STANDARD, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL ORGANISE MORE REFRESHER COURSES FOR THE INSTRUCTORS.

REFERRING TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCE SYSTEM, MR SO SAID ALL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES, EXCEPT TAXIS AND FRANCHISED BUSES, WOULD REQUIRE TO TAKE OUT A PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCE.

+THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUIREMENT IS BASICALLY TO STREAMLINE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRADE, AND TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO PASSENGERS BY ENSURING THAT THEIR SAFETY IS NOT NEGLECTED BY THE OPERATORS, + HE SAID.

+AS FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, THE CONDITIONS LAID DOWN FOR THEIR OPERATIONS ARE IN FACT GENERALLY NO DIFFERENT FROM THOSE CURRENTLY IN FORCE.

+SO LONG AS PLB OPERATORS COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS LAID DOWN IN THEIR LICENCES, AND MOST OF THEM DO NOW, THEY NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THEIR LICENCES, MR SO SAID.

TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THE NEW LEGISLATION, A ROAD USERS' CODE, CONTAINING INFORMATION ON HOW MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS CAN USE THE ROADS PROPERLY AND SAFELY, IS BEING PREPARED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT,

GOVERNOR LEAVING FOR PEKING ****

THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL LEAVE FOR PEKING TOMORROW (TUESDAY TO TAKE PART IN ANOTHER ROUND OF SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

SIR EDWARD WILL BE TRAVELLING ON FLIGHT CA 106, ETD 1.50 PM.

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