XN000022-1987-10-20 — Page 5

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1987

THE TAC ENDORSED THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ΤΟ THE TRAMWAY ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUATION OF PRIVATE-HIRE AND TOUR SERVICES CURRENTLY OPERATED BY THE HONG KONG TRAMWAYS.

THE MEMBERS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT A PROVISION BE MADE FOR THE NUMBER OF TOUR CARS TO BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, AND FOR TOUR CARS TO BE CLEARLY DESIGNATED AS SUCH AND TO DISPLAY THE FARE BEING CHARGED CONSPICUOUSLY SO AS NOT ΤΟ CONFUSE THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC.

THE TAC ALSO CONSIDERED A VERBAL REPORT ON THE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE DISTRICT BOARDS REGRADING THE TAXI POLICY REVIEW.

OYSTER FARMERS ACCEPT GOVERNMENT OFFER

MORE THAN HALF OF THE OYSTER FARMERS IN LAU FAU SHAN AFFECTED BY THE MARINE TRANSPORTATION ROUTE FOR THE BORROW AREA IN DEEP BAY HAVE ACCEPTED THE GOVERNMENT'S OFFER OF EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES AND THE REMAINING FARMERS HAVE TWO WEEKS TO REMOVE THE OYSTERS ON THE ROUTE, A YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

THE LAND FORMATION CONTRACT FOR THE TIN SHUI WAI DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WOULD BE SIGNED ON OCTOBER 26 (MONDAY) AND WORK FOR THE BORROW AREA WILL COMMENCE ON NOVEMBER 2, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"SINCE JUNE, REMINDERS WERE MADE ΤΟ THE OYSTER FARMERS TO REMOVE THEIR OYSTERS AS DREDGING WORK WILL START ON SCHEDULE NEXT MONTH, HE SAID.

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TO FACILITATE THE CLAIMS OF OYSTER FARMERS AFFECTED BY THE CLEARANCE, TWO SIDE SCAN SONAR SURVEYS WERE CARRIED OUT IN JANUARY LAST YEAR AND JULY THIS YEAR TO ASCERTAIN THE EXTENT OF THE ACTIVE CULTIVATION OF OYSTER BEDS.

"THE SIDE SCAN SONAR METHOD WAS CONSIDERED A PRACTICABLE AND ACCURATE WAY TO ASCERTAIN THE AREA OF OYSTER BEDS THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE WORKS BY DETECTING OBJECTS IN THE SEABED POSITIVELY IDENTIFIABLE WITH OYSTER FARMING ACTIVITY," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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"THE FACT THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE OYSTER FARMERS HAVE ALREADY COLLECTED THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES SHOWED THAT THE RESULTS THE TWO SURVEYS WERE ACCURATE, HE ADDED.

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