XN000022-1985-03-05 — Page 17

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 1985

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PROPOSALS ON PLB'S

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY REVEALED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF A WORKING GROUP ON THE REGULATION OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES FOR POLICY CHANGES.

THE WORKING GROUP HAVING CONSIDERED THE VIEWS OF THE PLB TRADE AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES RECOMMENDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT' MAXICAB SELECTION CRITERIA BE IMPROVED AND STOPPING RESTRICTIONS FOR PLBS BE LIFTED WHERE PRACTICABLE,

+APPLICANTS FOR FRANCHISED MAXICAB SERVICE WILL BE ASSESSED OBJECTIVELY BY A POINTS SYSTEM ON THEIR ABILITY TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE SERVICE, SAID MR JAMES SO, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT.

+MARKING WILL BE BASED ON SUCH FACTORS AS THE APPLICANT'S EXPERIENCE IN THE PLB AND MAXICAB TRADES, PAST PASSING RATE OF MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINATION, FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND THE PERCENTAGE OF THE REQUIRED PLB FLEET OWNED BY THE APPLICANT OR HIS SPOUSE, HE SAID.

MR SO EXPLAINED THAT EXPERIENCE IN THE MAXICAB AND PLB TRADES HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE SELECTION CRITERIA BECAUSE IT GAVE AN INDICATION OF THE APPLICANT'S POTENTIAL AND SUITABILITY AS AN OPERATOR OF THE ROUTES APPLIED FOR.

+ON THE OTHER HAND, HIGH PASS RATE IN PREVIOUS VEHICLE EXAMINATIONS ENSURES SAFE AND QUALITY SERVICE WHILE SOUND FINANCIAL LIQUIDITY AND HIGH FLEET OWNERSHIP PERCENTAGE ARE

IMPORTANT FACTORS TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF SERVICE, HE SAID.

AFTER THE PREQUALIFICATION ASSESSMENT BASED ON POINTS MARKING, A SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT WOULD BE MADE BY THE MAXICAB OPERATORS SELECTION BOARD, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION RELATING TO THE APPLICANT'S SUITABILITY FOR WHICH NO POINTS WEIGHTING WAS GIVEN, SUCH AS ADVICE FROM THE RELEVANT DISTRICT OFFICE REGARDING THE APPLICANT'S LOCAL EXPERIENCE AND INTERESTS.

THE WORKING GROUP HAD ALSO FOUND SCOPE FOR REVIEWING CURRENT PLB STOPPING RESTRICTIONS IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHERE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS HAD SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED. THESE AREAS WOULD BE LOOKED AT ON AN INDIVIDUAL CASE BASIS RATHER THAN A GENERAL LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS.

+ IN THE COURSE OF THE REVIEW, ESTABLISHING SPECIFIED STOPPING PLACES WITHIN MAJOR RESTRICTED AREAS FOR PLBS AND OTHER VEHICLES SHOULD ALSO BE EXAMINED, MR SO ADDED.

THE GROUP SUPPORTED THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO PROHIBIT PLBS FROM ENTERING NEW PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.

+HOWEVER IN THE OLDER ESTATES WHERE PLB SERVICES ARE ALREADY WELL ESTABLISHED, SUCH PROHIBITIONS SHOULD NOT BE IMPOSED UNLESS ALTERNATIVE ROUTES OR ACCESS TO FACILITATE PLB OPERATIONS CAN BE PROVIDED, MR SO SAID.

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