XN000022-1988-02-03 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1988

WHERE THERE WERE DOUBTS ON SPECIFIC LEGAL POINTS, OC'S OR MAC'S SHOULD SEEK LEGAL ADVICE, MR LIAO SAID.

INDIVIDUAL

IN THIS CONNECTION, HE NOTED THAT LAST YEAR A TOTAL OF 106 INQUIRIES WERE REFERRED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICES ΤΟ THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME OPERATED BY THE LAW SOCIETY OF HONG KONG,

AS ΤΟ WHAT STEPS THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE TO PREVENT CIVIC-MINDED PEOPLE FROM BEING DETERRED FROM TAKING PART IN VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY WORK BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, MR LIAO SAID IT WAS NOT WITHIN GOVERNMENT'S POWER, BY LEGISLATION OR OTHERWISE, TO PREVENT A PERSON FROM BEING JOINED AS A PARTY ΤΟ CIVIL PROCEEDINGS.

"IF A PERSON BELIEVES THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE A PARTY TO PROCEEDINGS HE MAY APPLY UNDER THE RULES OF THE SUPREME COURT FOR THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HIM TO BE DISCONTINUED, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD, THROUGH THE LIAISON NETWORK OF THE DISTRICT OFFICES, EXPLAIN THE ABOVE POINTS TO OC AND MAC OFFICE-BEARERS AND WOULD CONTINUE то GIVE THEM ALL SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE POSSIBLE, MR LIAO ADDED.

TRAMWAY (AMENDMENT) BILL SUPPORTED

* * * * *

THE PASSING OF THE TRAMWAY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WILL ADD A NEW DIMENSION TO TOURISM AND WILL BE OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO TOURISTS FROM CITIES WHICH HAVE DISMANTLED THEIR TRAMWAY SYSTEMS, THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR CHAN SAID THE HIGHER FARES ALLOWED FOR TRAMS ON HIRE OR TOUR SERVICE WOULD NOT AFFECT LOCAL CITIZENS ON THEIR REGULAR TRIPS TO WORK OR FOR SHOPPING.

"IN RECENT YEARS, JOINT EFFORTS BY THE HONG KONG TRAMWAYS LTD AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED THE NORMAL TRAM SERVICES, HE NOTED.

SERVICES,

INCLUDING EFFECTIVE

MR CHAN CITED SEVERAL POINTS ABOUT NORMAL LOW FARES, GOOD SAFETY RECORD, HIGH CARRYING CAPACITY, ENERGY USE, EASY MAINTENANCE AND ABSENCE OF AIR POLLUTION.

WINDING UP DEBATE, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL

TRAM SERVICES LEUNG, SAID THE BILL ENABLED

AS A FORM OF TOURIST ATTRACTION TO BE REGULARISED.

ENSURE

THERE WAS AT THE SAME TIME SUFFICIENT GUARANTEE IN THE BILL TO THAT THE SERVICES TO TOURISTS WOULD IN NO WAY AFFECT THE TRAMWAY'S NORMAL SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

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