XN000022-1985-07-10 — Page 36

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1985

34

RATEPAYERS PROPOSALS DEALT WITH

***

ALL PROPOSALS LODGED BY RATE PAYERS IN MARCH THIS YEAR FOR THE ALTERATION OF THE VALUATION LIST FOR THE YEAR 1985-86 HAD BEEN DEALT WITH, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

HE URGED ANY PERSON WHO HAD SERVED SUCH A PROPOSAL AND HAD NOT RECEIVED A NOTICE OF DECISION YET. TO IMMEDIATELY CONTACT MR YEUNG CHE-KEUNG OF THE DEPARTMENT AT TEL: 5-7957629.

URBCO AGREES TO HOVERFERRY SERVICE TRIAL

****

THE URBAN COUNCIL TODAY AGREED TO A PROPOSAL BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY TO OPERATE A HOVERFERRY SERVICE BETWEEN NORTH POINT AND THE TSIM SHA TSUI PROMENADE ON TRIAL FOR THREE MONTHS.

THE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED FOLLOWING A LENGTHY DISCUSSION AT A MEETING OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY MR HOWARD YOUNG.

MEMBERS WERE CONCERNED THAT THE SETTING UP OF A HOVERFERRY LANDING POINT AT THE PROMENADE WOULD SPOIL THE AREA AS A PUBLIC AMENITY. FURTHERMORE, ITS USE AS A THOROUGHFARE FOR PASSENGERS AND THEIR EMBARKATION AND DISEMBARKATION COULD CREATE SUCH PROBLEMS AS LITTERING, CONCENTRATION OF HAWKERS, QUEUING AND PEDESTRIAN OBSTRUCTION.

HOWEVER, IN THE LIGHT OF THE STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED FERRY SERVICE BY VARIOUS BODIES CONCERNED, MEMBERS AGREED THAT IT SHOULD BE PUT ON TRIAL FOR THREE MONTHS DURING WHICH TIME THE COUNCIL WOULD CLOSELY ASSESS THE EFFECT ON THE PROMENADE, ITS USE AS A PLEASURE GROUND AND THE STAFF REQUIREMENT OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO KEEP THE AREA IN ORDER.

THE COUNCIL RESERVED THE RIGHT TO REQUEST TERMINATION OF THE TRIAL IF THE PUBLIC USE OF THE PROMENADE WAS UNDULY

INCONVENIENCED OR ITS USE AS A GENERAL AMENITY WAS PREJUDICED.

/35