XN000022-1986-04-25 — Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1986

FRANCHISE OF CMB EXTENDED *****

THE FRANCHISE OF THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY, DUE TO EXPIRE ON AUGUST 31, 1987, HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR TWO YEARS TO AUGUST 31, 1989.

EXPLAINING THE BACKGROUND TO THE EXTENSION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE DECISION WAS MADE IN THE LIGHT OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMPANY'S PERFORMANCE, PARTICULARLY IN COMPLYING WITH SCHEDULES OF SERVICE AND IN THE ENHANCEMENT OF ITS BUS MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY STANDARDS.

HE SAID THAT A RECENT REVIEW BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF CMB'S PERFORMANCE REVEALED THAT THE COMPANY HAD MADE PROGRESS IN UPGRADING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ITS SERVICE, PARTICULARLY DURING THE CLOSE MONITORING OF CMB OVER THE PAST YEAR BY THE TAC AND THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.

+ IMPLEMENTATION BY CMB OF A LONG LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE TAC WORKING GROUP ON CMB MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN MONITORED ON A MONTHLY BASIS SINCE APRIL 1985 BY A CMB- TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT LIAISON COMMITTEE AND BY THE TAC ITSELF.+

+AS A RESULT, THERE HAS BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE OVERALL STANDARD OF MAINTENANCE, RESULTING IN A MUCH SAFER BUS FLEET,+ HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF SAFETY DEFECTS DETECTED PER BUS HAD FALLEN FROM THREE IN JANUARY 1985 TO 0.5 IN SEPTEMBER 1985, WHILE BUS BREAKDOWN RATES HAD FALLEN OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS BY ALMOST 50 PER CENT,

INJURY ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CMB BUSES HAD ALSO SHOWN A DOWNWARD TREND DURING 1985, HE SAID.

+ TO DATE CMB HAS PROVED ABLE TO SUSTAIN THIS IMPROVEMENT IN MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY STANDARDS,+ HE POINTED OUT.

+FURTHERMORE, THE COMPANY IS MAKING PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ORGANISATION AND METHODS CONSULTANT ON ASPECTS OF ITS MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS, SUPERVISORY CONTROL AND MAINTENANCE DOCUMENTATION.+

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO NOTED THAT COMPLAINTS AGAINST CMB AND ITS DRIVERS HAD DROPPED BY HALF COMPARED WITH TWO YEARS AGO.

+CMB'S SERVICE AND ITS EFFORTS TO BRING ABOUT FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, AND THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED THE TAC TO UNDERTAKE ANOTHER REVIEW OF THE COMPANY'S PERFORMANCE IN 12 MONTHS' TIME.+

A NOTICE OF THE FRANCHISE EXTENSION WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

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