XN000022-1988-07-28 — Page 14

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1988

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LANTAU BUS COMPANY'S FRANCHISE EXTENDED

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AN APPLICATION LY THE NEW LANTAO BUS COMPANY (NLB) FOR A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF ITS FRANCHISE FROM APRIL 1, 1993 TO MARCH 31, 1995.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT NLB'S CURRENT FRANCHISE WAS FIRST GRANTED IN APRIL 1979 FOR EIGHT YEARS.

IT HAS SINCE BEEN EXTENDED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL THREE TIMES, EACH FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.

THE LAST EXTENSION TO MARCH 31, 1993 WAS APPROVED IN AUGUST LAST YEAR.

IN APPROVING NLB'S RECENT APPLICATION, THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAD CONSIDERED NLB'S CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS ON ITS PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, IN PARTICULAR ON VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.

SUCH IMPROVEMENTS

ARE REFLECTED BY THE DECLINE IN PUBLIC

COMPLAINTS ABOUT ITS SERVICES.

CENTRAL DISTRICT GETS NEW REFUSE COLLECTION FACILITY

* * * *

THE CENTRAL TOILET/REFUSE

AN OLD TOILET IN THE VICINITY OF LAN KWAI FONG IN DISTRICT HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO A THREE-STOREY PUBLIC COLLECTION POINT AND A SITTING-OUT AREA UNDER A CITY REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.

THE NEW PUBLIC TOILET/REFUSE COLLECTION POINT SITTING-OUT AREA WAS FORMALLY HANDED OVER ΤΟ THE URBAN DEPARTMENT ON JUNE 27,

AND

THE SERVICES

THE LAN KWAI FONG TENANTS' COMMITTEE HAD. IN THE PAST SEVERELY OBJECTED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A REFUSE COLLECTION POINT THERE, CLAIMING THAT IT WOULD GROSSLY AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE LOCALITY.

THE ISSUE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RAISED AT CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS AND WAS HOTLY DEBATED AMONG MEMBERS:

SINCE THEN, IT HAD TAKEN THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAN FOUR YEARS TO LOBBY SUPPORT FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

MORE

THE NEW