XN000022-1988-07-15 — Page 21

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 1988

PROCEDURES OF AMENDING PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCES REVISED

震

TERMS

THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WILL BE ABLE TO AMEND THE OR CONDITIONS OF A PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCE (PSL) AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE LICENSEE.

THIS IS STIPULATED IN THE ROAD TRAFFIC (PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1988 PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

AT PRESENT, THE COMMISSIONER MUST OBTAIN THE PRIOR CONSENT OF THE LICENSEE BEFORE HE COULD INTRODUCE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE PSL.

"THIS LIMITS THE COMMISSIONER'S ABILITY TO MEET PUBLIC TRANSPORT NEEDS PROMPTLY AND MAY, IN SOME CASES, JEOPARDISE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES,

Ꮀ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED.

"A PSL IS ISSUED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO AUTHORISE ITS HOLDER TO OPERATE A NON-FRANCHISED PUBLIC BUS SERVICE, A PRIVATE BUS SERVICE OR A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS SERVICE. TO MEET CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, IT 19 SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO AMEND THE TERMS OR CONDITIONS OF THE LICENCE, FOR EXAMPLE, MAKING ALTERATIONS TO THE ROUTEING OR STOPS OF THE SERVICE TO FACILITATE ROAD WORKS."

UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, THE COMMISSIONER, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE LICENSEE, MUST GIVE THE LICENSEE THREE MONTHS' NOTICE OF THE AMENDMENTS IN WRITING, BITHER PERSONALLY OR BY REGISTERED POST.

THE

ΤΟ

BY

TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF THE LICENSEE, AMENDMENTS ΤΟ ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE TO ENABLE THE LICENSEE APPLY FOR A REVIEW BY THE TRANSPORT TRIBUNAL OF ANY DECISION MADE THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO AMEND THE TERMS OR CONDITIONS OF A PSL.

"THE APPLICATION MUST BE MADE IN WRITING TO THE COMMISSIONER WITHIN 14 DAYS AFTER THE LICENSER IS NOTIFIED OF THE AMENDMENTS, AND THE AMENDMENTS CONCERNED WILL NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE TRANSPORT TRIBUNAL COMPLETES ITS REVIEW AND REACHES A DECISION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE ROAD TRAFFIC (PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES) ( AMENDMENT} REGULATIONS 1988 ALSO EMPOWERS THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO SPECIFY THE FORMAT AND PARTICULARS OF THE PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCE CERTIFICATE DISPLAYED AT THE FRONT OF A VEHICLE.

AT PRESENT, ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE CERTIFICATE CONTAINING SUCH PARTICULARS AS VEHICLE NUMBER, DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPE OF SERVICE AND EXPIRY DATE, HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.

/FURTHERMORE, IN