XN000022-1985-01-11 — Page 12

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1985

+A HONG KONG WHICH LOOKS SET FOR A PERIOD OF INCREASING PROSPERITY; A HONG KONG WHOSE PEOPLE HAVE INCREASINGLY HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT IN ALL ITS PROGRAMMES. THESE FACTORS, WITH THE TREND TO SMALLER HOUSEHOLDS AND THE DISPERSION TO THE NEW TOWNS, ALL POINT TO A CONTINUING INCREASE IN TRAFFIC DEMAND, + HE SAID.

HE SAID THE SITUATION HAD TO BE LOOKED AT IN THE LIGHT OF THE ELL-ESTABLISHED POLICY THAT, FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REASONS, PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND GOODS VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE FIRST PRIORITY IN THE USE OF THE ROAD NETWORK.

+BY ONE MEANS OR ANOTHER, WE HAVE TO RESTRAIN THE DEGREE

OF USE OF THE ROAD NETWORK BY PRIVATE VEHICLES IN CERTAIN PLACES AT CERTAIN TIMES. THIS IS NO EASY MATTER BECAUSE THE OWNERSHIP AND USE OF A PRIVATE VEHICLE IS NOT ONLY CONVENIENT, IT IS ALSO AN EVIDENT REFLECTION OF FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL STANDING TO SAY NOTHING OF ITS PSYCHOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE,+ HE SAID.

HE SAID THAT THE TWO PRINCIPAL SOLUTIONS - HIGH TAXATION OR ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING SHOULD BE EXAMINED ON THEIR RELATIVE MERITS AND IN FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR IMPLICATIONS, SO THAT DURING 1985 THE DECISION WILL BE REACHED WITH THE BENEFIT OF THE THIRD ROUND OF DISTRICT BOARD CONSULTATIONS IN MAY AND THE CONTINUING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN. +

CONCERN FELT OVER UNPAID TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CLAIMS

***

THE GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED WITH THE PLIGHT OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED COMPENSATION BY A COURT BUT ARE UNABLE TO RECOVER THAT COMPENSATION DUE TO THE INSOLVENCY OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY INVOLVED.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT DISCUSSIONS HAD BEEN TAKING PLACE FOR SOME TIME, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SOURCES OF FUNDS AND TO DEVISE A SCHEME TO MEET THE CLAIMS OF SOME THIRD PARTY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS WHOSE CLAIMS HAVE NOT BEEN SATISFIED. THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT WHILE THE OVERNMENT WAS DOING ALL IT COULD TO ACHIEVE A QUICK AND **T. FACTORY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, THE PROPOSALS WERE STILL AT A FORMATIVE STAGE, AND WOULD REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF THE SECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS. IT WAS INTENDED TO DEAL G WITH CASES ARISING FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WHICH

I BECOME INSOLVENT DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

ON THE