XN000022-1985-11-20 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1985

+THESE RECOMMEND AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE SUPERVISED BY A TEACHER OR AN ADULT OTHER THAN THE DRIVER WHILE TRAVELLING AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE TAUGHT THE CORRECT WAY TO GET ON AND OFF THE BUS, HE SAID.

TURNING TO EXISTING LEGISLATION GOVERNING THESE VEHICLES, MR MACPHERSON STATED THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED ADEQUATE TO MEET PRESENT NEEDS TO THE EXTENT THAT IT REQUIRED THEM TO BE CONSTRUCTED TO A SAFE DESIGN AND TO BE DRIVEN SAFELY.

+ALL VEHICLES USED FOR THE TRANSPORT OF SCHOOL CHILDREN HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES WHILE ALL DRIVERS ARE REQUIRED BY THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE TO EXERCISE PROPER CARE TO ENSURE THAT THEY DO NOT ENDANGER THEMSELVES, THE IR PASSENGERS AND OTHER ROAD USERS.

+PERSONS LICENSED TO DRIVE PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE HELD A VALID DRIVING LICENCE FOR A PRIVATE CAR FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS AND TO PASS A DRIVING TEST FOR LIGHT BUSES.+

A TOTAL OF 1 598 VAN-TYPE VEHICLES ARE REGISTERED WITH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AS BEING USED FOR SCHOOL TRANSPORT.

THIS FIGURE IS MADE UP OF 1 430 LIGHT BUSES WITH BETWEEN SEVEN AND 14 SEATS WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED AS PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES (SCHOOL SERVICE) AND 167 SEVEN-SEATER VANS WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED AS PRIVATE CARS AND ISSUED WITH SCHOOL HIRE CAR PERMITS.

PRIORITY FOR NEW SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS, SERVICES

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IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT NEW PROJECTS AND EXPANSION OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES SHOULD BE ACCORDED A HIGHER PRIORITY THAN IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING SERVICES FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT IMPROVEMENTS TO SOCIAL WERLFARE SERVICES, LIKE ALL OTHER PROJECTS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, DEPENDED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF MANPOWER RESOURCES AND FUNDS.

+ IT IS FOR THESE REASONS THAT THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANNING RATIO FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, WHICH HAVE FIGURED IN THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN SINCE 1982 HAVE NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED,+ MR CHAMBERS SAID.

FE NOTED .***