XN000022-1986-06-04 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1986

R MACPHERSON SAID THAT MR LAI HAD RIGHTLY POINTED OUT THAT A STATUTORY SCHEME FOR APPEAL HAD NOT BEEN PROVIDED IN THE BILL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE PERMIT SYSTEM SIMPLE.

+ THE ADMINISTRATION WILL, HOWEVER, CLOSELY MONITOR THE OPERATION OF THE PERMIT SYSTEM AND IF EXPERIENCE REVEALS THAT A STATUTORY MACHINERY TO DEAL WITH APPEALS IS NECESSARY, STEPS WILL IMMEDIATELY BE TAKEN TO RECOMMEND SUCH A PROVISION,+ HE SAID.

SIMPLE, FAIR SYSTEM TO REGULATE VILLAGE VEHICLES WELCOMED

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MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 ARE GENERALLY SATISFIED THAT THE BILL ACHIEVED THE AIM OF PROVIDING FOR A SIMPLE AND FAIR SYSTEM OF REGULATING VILLAGE VEHICLES.

THIS WAS STATED BY CONVENER OF THE AD HOC GROUP, THE HON RICHARD LAI WHEN SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HOWEVER, HE SAID, THERE WERE A FEW RESERVATIONS ON WHICH HE WOULD LIKE TO SEEK GOVERNMENT'S REASSURANCE.

DR LAI FIRST ASKED FOR CONFIRMATION THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES HAD BEEN CONSULTED ON THE PROPOSED PERMIT SYSTEM, AND THAT THEY SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL AND WERE PREPARED TO OFFER POLICIES AT REASONABLE AND REALISTIC PREMIUMS.

HE ALSO ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO STATE THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO VILLAGE VEHICLES.

ON THE WIDE POWERS GIVEN TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT MIGHT BE ISSUED, THE CLASSES OF PERSONS THAT COULD BE ISSUED WITH PERMITS AND THE TIMES OF DAY DURING WHICH VEHICLES MIGHT BE USED, DR LAI SAID THESE POWERS WERE USEFUL IN CONTROLLING THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES IN A PARTICULARLY CONGESTED AREA,

+ THE NATURE OF THESE POWERS MAKES IT VERY IMPORTANT THAT THERE IS FULL CONSULTATION ON WHEN, HOW, AND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE EXERCISED: THE VIEWS OF DISTRICT BOARDS, RURAL COMMITTEES, AREA COMMITTEES AND OTHER APPROPRIATE LOCAL BODIES SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE THE POWERS ARE USED, HE SAID.

/DR LAT