XN000022-1985-09-28 — Page 7

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1985

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17 GARAGES TO GET TESTING OKAY

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING TO DESIGNATE 17 PRIVATE GARAGES AS CAR TESTING CENTRES LATER IN THE YEAR AS A MAJOR STEP IN ITS PLAN TO HIVE OFF THE EXAMINATION OF PRIVATE CARS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE AMENDED IN JULY, ONLY GARAGES DESIGNATED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS CAR TESTING CENTRES WILL BE AUTHORISED TO CARRY OUT INSPECTIONS ON PRIVATE CARS AND ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF ROAD WORTHINESS FOR ANY CAR WHICH HAS PASSED THE TEST SO THAT THE CAR OWNER CAN RELICENSE HIS VEHICLE.

THE LEGISLATION ALSO REQUIRES PRIVATE CARS OVER SIX YEARS OLD TO UNDERGO ANNUAL INSPECTIONS BEFORE RELICENSING,

THE DEPARTMENT INVITED PRIVATE GARAGES TO APPLY FOR DESIGNATION AS CAR TESTING CENTRES AT THE END OF LAST MONTH AND 28 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED.

HAVING EVALUATED THE APPLICATIONS AND INSPECTED THE APPLICANTS' PREMISES, THE DEPARTMENT SELECTED 17 OF THE GARAGES TO BECOME CAR TESTING CENTRES. FINAL APPROVAL WOULD BE GIVEN WHEN THE GARAGES' STAFF HAD UNDERGONE TRAINING AT A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THOSE UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS COULD STILL APPLY TO JOIN THE SCHEME NEXT YEAR.

+THE NAMES OF SUCCESSFUL GARAGES WILL BE ANNOUNCED WHEN THE DESIGNATION IS OFFICIAL,+ HE EXPLAINED, STRESSING THAT THE CAR TESTING CENTRES WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH A CODE OF PRACTICE SETTING OUT THE DETAILED PROCEDURES FOR CAR INSPECTIONS.

THE ANNUAL EXAMINATION OF CARS OVER SIX YEARS OLD COULD MEAN ABOUT 60 000 INSPECTIONS UNDERTAKEN BY THE CAR TESTING CENTRES NEXT YEAR AND THE EXAMINATION FEE WOULD BE FIXED AT $160.

THE DEPARTMENT EXPECTED TO IMPLEMENT THE CAR INSPECTION SCHEME BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN CONCLUDED.

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