XN000022-1986-09-29 — Page 6

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1986

5.

STUDENT TRAVEL CARD INVALID ON SUNDAYS, HOLIDAYS

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) REMINDED HOLDERS OF STUDENT TRAVEL CARDS THAT FROM OCTOBER 5 THEY WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO TRAVEL ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT AT CONCESSIONARY FARES ON SUNDAYS, AND DURING THE SUMMER, CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

THIS IS IN LINE WITH AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECISION MADE IN MAY TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY FOR RECREATION TRAVEL BY STUDENTS.

+TO AVOID THE CONFUSION CAUSED BY VARIATIONS IN HOLIDAYS FOR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, THE STUDENT TRAVEL SCHEME DEFINES CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS AS THE PERIOD BETWEEN DECEMBER 25 AND JANUARY 1 INCLUSIVE, AND THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS AS JULY 16 TO AUGUST 31 INCLUSIVE,+ A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT FROM WEDNESDAY (OCTOBER 1), THE 1986-87 STUDENT TRAVEL CARDS SHOULD BE USED AS THE CARDS FOR THE PREVIOUS ACADEMIC YEAR WILL EXPIRE TOMORROW (TUESDAY).

THE STUDENT TRAVEL SCHEME, INTRODUCED FROM 1981, ALLOWS FULL-TIME STUDENTS, EXCEPT POST-GRADUATE STUDENTS, AGED OVER 12 AND UNDER 26 TO TRAVEL AT CONCESSIONARY FARES ON ALL MAJOR FORMS OF FRANCHISED PUBLIC TRANSPORT, THE MTR AND THE KCR.

IN THE 1985-86 ACADEMIC YEAR, 487 000 STUDENT TRAVEL CARDS WERE ISSUED, COVERING 37 000 POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS, 439 000 SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 11 000 PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.

ARISING FROM THE REDUCTION IN SUBSIDY, GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON THE SCHEME WILL BE REDUCED TO ABOUT $240 MILLION THIS ACADEMIC YEAR -- A SAVING OF ABOUT $80 MILLION.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT A LEAFLET EXPLAINING THE REVISED SCHEME CAN BE OBTAINED AT THE STUDENT TRAVEL OFFICE, SECOND FLOOR, LOW BLOCK, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, AND AT LICENSING OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT.

ILLEGAL PARKING SITUATION IMPROVED

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ILLEGAL PARKING ALONG TIN WAN NEW STREET IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT WAS CURBED AFTER A CIVIC-MINDED RESIDENT WROTE TO THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD.

/UDING THE