XN000022-1984-12-21 — Page 15

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FRIDAY, DECMBER 21, 1984

TRANSPORT OFFICIALS HAD DISCUSSED THE IEC FARES WITH THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD, THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY. THE LATEST DISCUSSION WAS WITH THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD.

AFTER THE MEETING, THE COMMITTEE ISSUED THE FOLLOWING OPEN STATEMENT:-

+ THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE MAINTAINS THAT THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD SHOULD STAND,

1.E. THAT THE FARES SHOULD BE $1.50 AND $2.00 RESPECTIVELY FOR SHAU KEI WAN AND CHAI WAN BUS ROUTES. HOWEVER, IT ALSO APPRECIATES THE NEED TO BALANCE THE INTEREST OF COMMUTERS ON THE IEC ROUTES AND THOSE ON KING'S ROAD ROUTES. IT URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER THE LIVELIHOOD AND INTEREST OF ALL COMMUTERS IN ARRIVING AT A FINAL DECISION. +

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED: +THE NEW FARE SCALE APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FULLY TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE INTEREST OF COMMUTERS BOTH ON THE IEC ROUTES AND ON THE KING'S ROAD ROUTES AND IS CONSIDERED TO STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE.

+ THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE BUS SERVICES ALONG IEC AND KING'S ROAD AFTER THE NEW IEC FARES ARE INTRODUCED.+

AS PROPOSED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD, ROUTE NO. 722 WILL BE EXTENDED FROM ADMIRALTY TO TERMINATE IN CENTRAL ON JANUARY 14, 1985.

YAUMATI FERRY FARE RISE APPROVED

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AN APPLICATION BY THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY FOR AN INCREASE IN VEHICULAR FARES FROM JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

THE LAST INCREASE IN VEHICULAR FERRY FARES BY THE COMPANY WAS IN JULY 1981, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FARES FOR MOTOR CYCLES, WHICH WAS REVISED FROM $1 TO $2 IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.

UNDER THE FERRY SERVICES (HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY, LIMITED) (DETERMINATION OF FARES) (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) ORDER 1984 GAZETTED TODAY (DECEMBER 21), FARES FOR SEVEN TYPES OF VEHICLES WILL BE ADJUSTED AS FOLLOWS:

(A) VITE