XN000022-1986-05-08 — Page 2

THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1986

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PERMIT SYSTEM FOR VILLAGE VEHICLES PROPOSED

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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO CONTROL THE SAFETY AND NOISE ASPECTS OF VILLAGE VEHICLES THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF A PERMIT SYSTEM.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE PROPOSED PERMIT SYSTEM WAS AIMED AT BRINGING THESE MOTORISED CARTS WITHIN THE LAW AND ALLOWING THE OPERATION OF SUCH VEHICLES, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL IN SOME RURAL AREAS, TO CONTINUE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID VILLAGE VEHICLES WERE USED TO TRANSPORT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, BUILDING MATERIALS AND OTHER GOODS IN RURAL AND OTHER AREAS WHICH WERE INACCESSIBLE OR CLOSED TO ORDINARY VEHICLES.

+THEY CREATE A PARTICULAR RISK WHEN FULLY LOADED AND USED ON STEEP AND NARROW FOOTPATHS. OTHER DANGEROUS FEATURES INCLUDE THE LACK OF SUITABLE BRAKES AND HORNS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

BUT VILLAGE VEHICLES HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RURAL AREAS BY SERVING A USEFUL PURPOSE IN PROVIDING A CONVENIENT MEANS OF TRANSPORTING GOODS AND BUILDING MATERIALS

IN AREAS WHERE THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO USE MANUAL LABOUR.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE USE OF VILLAGE VEHICLES WAS ILLEGAL BECAUSE THEY WERE UNREGISTERED, UNLICENSED AND UNINSURED. UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE THESE VEHICLES WERE +MOTOR VEHICLES+ BEING USED ON +ROADS+ AND THEREFORE HAD TO BE REGISTERED AND LICENSED.

+NEVERTHELESS, REGISTRATION AND LICENSING IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THESE VEHICLES CANNOT SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS.

+AS THEY CANNOT BE LICENSED UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE, INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL NOT INSURE THEM,+ HE SAID.

THE PROPOSED PERMIT SYSTEM IS SIMPLER THAN THE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING SYSTEM APPLICABLE TO OTHER TYPES OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

UNDER THE PROPOSED SYSTEM, VILLAGE VEHICLES WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TWO SUB-CATEGORIES: PEDESTRIAN-CONTROLLED TYPE AND DRIVER- OPERATED TYPE, OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN PERMITS, EACH BEING VALID FOR A YEAR AND TO BE ISSUED OR RENEWED FOR A FEE OF $50.

+OWNERS OF VILLAGE VEHICLES WILL BE GIVEN A GRACE PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PERMIT SYSTEM TO ADAPT THEIR VEHICLES TO SATISFY CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS BRAKING SYSTEM, WARNING INSTRUMENT AND SILENCER.

/+THEY AR