XN000022-1987-10-14 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1987

"ITS PURPOSE IS TO SEE WHETHER THE PROVISION

OF A TAXI TRIP EACH WEEK FOR SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES WILL HELP SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND, IF SO, WHETHER A VOUCHER SCHEME WOULD BE PRACTICABLE BOTH FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE DISABLED PERSON AND OF THE TAXI DRIVER, HE SAID.

"

MR BRIDGE SAID THE PILOT SCHEME WAS STARTED ON APRIL 1 AND WOULD LAST UNTIL MARCH 31 NEXT YEAR.

"THE PILOT SCHEME APPLIES TO PEOPLE 15 AND OVER WHO ARE WHEEL-CHAIR BOUND, WHOSE FAMILY INCOME IS BELOW THE MEDIAN LEVEL FOR HONG KONG AND WHO DO NOT OWN A TAX EXEMPT CAR, HE SAID.

T

BOUND PEOPLE IN HONG

OF A TOTAL OF ABOUT 1, 000 WHEEL-CHAIR KONG, 245 HAD SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED TO JOIN THE SCHEME.

HOWEVER, MR BRIDGE

SAID,

PRELIMINARY

THAT THE TAXI TRADE WAS FINDING THE SCHEME OPERATE.

INDICATIONS HAD SHOWN SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO

"IN MOST COUNTRIES WHERE SIMILAR SCHEMES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL TAXIS ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY LARGE COMPANIES, BUT IN HONG KONG MORE THAN 90 PER CENT OF TAXIS ARE OPERATED BY OWNER DRIVERS," HE EXPLAINED.

HE ADDED THAT THERE WERE ALREADY ARRANGEMENTS TO HELP THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED GET PLACES OF WORK.

SPECIAL TRANSPORT ΤΟ AND FROM THEIR

LIABILITY OF AIR-CONDITIONER OWNERS EXPLAINED

ΤΟ AIR-CONDITIONER A PERSON DROPPING OR ALLOWING AN

FALL TO PLACE COMMITS THE DANGER OR INJURY OF ANY PERSON IN OR NEAR A PUBLIC

SECTION 4 B AN OFFENCE AND 1S LIABLE TO A FINE AND IMPRISONMENT UNDER OF THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE.

ALISTAIR

AND

THE WORKS,

HON THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR LANDS

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN ASPREY, SAID THIS IN THE ANSWER TO A QUESTION BY THE HON POON CHI-FAI.

THIS

OR OF REPAIR

SITE AND COMMITTED

HE SAID IF

OCCURRED DURING THE COURSE DECORATION OF THE BUILDING, THE PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR ON THE THE CONTRACTOR CARRYING OUT THE REPAIR OR AN OFFENCE.

DECORATION ALSO

/HOWEVER, THE