XN000022-1987-02-18 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987

MR JACOBS EXPLAINED WHAT HE MEANT BY +OTHER AIRLINES+--THE AIRLINE DESIGNATED BY THE OTHER PARTY TO THE PARTICULAR BILATERAL AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS PLUS THIRD-PARTY AIRLINES PERMITTED TO OPERATE ON THE WHOLE OR PART OF THAT ROUTE.

+A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF COMPETITION THEREFORE DOES EXIST AND HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN AND TRAVELLERS DO HAVE A RANGE OF CHOICES ON THOSE ROUTES THAT HAVE THE HEAVIEST TRAFFIC,+ HE SAID.

IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, MR JACOBS SAID, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO TAKE A VIEW ON WHETHER PRESERVING THE STATUS QUO IN RESPECT OF A GIVEN ROUTE RATHER THAN SEEKING THE RIGHT TO DESIGNATE A SECOND HONG KONG AIRLINE FOR A ROUTE WAS OF GREATER VALUE TO HONG KONG'S OVERALL INTERESTS IN SUCH MATTERS AS TOURISM AND CARRIAGE OF GOODS.

THE BALANCE OF ADVANTAGE WAS NOT THE SAME IN ALL CASES, HE NOTED.

MR JACOBS SAID THE GOVERNMENT REMAINED OF THE VIEW THAT THE GENERAL RULE ON DESIGNATION HAD TO BE ONE AIRLINE PER ROUTE.

+THAT IS THE GENERAL, BUT NOT THE INVARIABLE, RULE AND THIS POLICY APPLIES EQUALLY TO ALL HONG KONG AIRLINES, HE SAID.

IF THE GOVERNMENT JUDGED THAT MORE COMPETITION WAS NEEDED IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE TRAFFIC WAS SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAINA SUBSTANTIAL OPERATION BY MORE THAN ONE HONG KONG AIRLINE IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER FOREIGN AIRLINES HAVING RIGHTS ON A PARTICULAR ROUTE, THEN THE QUESTION OF THE DESIGNATION OF A SECOND LICENSED HONG KONG AIRLINE WOULD BE VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDERED, HE ADDED.

ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS TO ASSURE CONSISTENCY

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THERE ARE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS IN THE CENSORIAL PROCESS TO ASSURE THAT CONSISTENT AND ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF CLASSIFICATION OF ARTICLES ARE ACHIEVED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES BILL 1986, MR FORD SAID THE SAFEGUARDS INCLUDED ACCESS TO FULL HEARINGS, THE ENLISTMENT OF ADDITIONAL ADJUDICATORS AT HEARINGS, ACCESS TO A REPOSITORY OF ARTICLES CLASSIFIED AND THE ABILITY OF THE CROWN TO SEEK A REVIEW OF THE RELEVANT TRIBUNAL'S DECISION IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC REACTION.

/RESPONDING TO