XN000022-1989-04-12 — Page 26

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1989

"GIVEN THE INHERENT OPENNESS OF THE

LRT, AND THE FACT THAT VICTIMS OF ALL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING TRAMS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER TAVAS, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE AMBIT OF TAVAS SHOULD BE WIDENED SO AS TO EXTEND ELIGIBILITY TO ALL VICTIMS OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING LIGHT RAIL VEHICLES, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE ACCIDENT TAKES PLACE ON THE INTEGRATED OR THE SEGREGATED SECTIONS OF THE TRACK," MR CHAU SAID.

CLAUSE 2 OF THE BILL THEREFORE RE-DEFINED 'ROAD' SO THAT ALL ACCIDENTS WHICH INVOLVED A LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE COULD BE CONSIDERED TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE ORDINANCE

THIS CLAUSE ALSO DEFINED A 'LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE'.

AS

"WE CONSIDER THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT ALL PERSONS WHO HAVE SUFFERED PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEPENDENTS IN THE CASE OF DEATH, IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE SINCE PUBLIC TRAILS OF THE SYSTEM BEGAN SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE FUND," MR CHAU SAID.

THE BILL THEREFORE INCLUDED IN CLAUSE 6A, DECLARATION WHICH PROVIDED THAT ALL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING A LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE WHICH HAD TAKEN PLACE SINCE MARCH 1, 1988, COULD BE DEEMED AS BEING TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE AWARDING ASSISTANCE FROM THE FUND.

MR CHAU SAID CLAUSE 3 PROVIDED THAT THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION SHOULD PAY AN ANNUAL LEVY IN RESPECT OF EVERY LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE AT THE RATE SPECIFIED IN PART 1 OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE ORDINANCE WITH EFFECT FROM MARCH 1, 1988, THE DATE AT WHICH PUBLIC TRAILS ON THE SYSTEM BEGAN.

"IT IS PROPOSED IN CLAUSE 5 THAT THE LEVY FOR EACH LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS FOR ANY OTHER VEHICLE USING THE ROAD INCLUDING TRAMCARS, BUSES, AND GOODS VEHICLES, MR CHAU SAID.

"I

"THE OPPORTUNITY IS ALSO TAKEN ΤΟ MAKE A NUMBER OF MINOR CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS IN THE ORDINANCE то UPDATE THE REFERENCE ΤΟ THE PRESENT ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE AND SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, CAP. 374 RATHER THAN THE REPLACED CAP. 200.

"THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN CLAUSE 4 AND RELATE TO REVISED TYPES OF DRIVING LICENSE, MR CHAU ADDED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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