XN000022-1990-07-25 — Page 54

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1990

NT TAXI OPERATING BOUNDARIES WERE SPECIFICALLY PREVENT THEIR PENETRATION INTO THE URBAN AREAS, HE SAID.

MR

DRAWN UP TO

LEUNG SAID TO REMOVE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN URBAN AND NT TAXIS WOULD ENCOURAGE THE LATTER TO OPERATE IN THE MORE LUCRATIVE URBAN AREAS AND POPULATION CENTRES, THEREBY DEPRIVING NT RESIDENTS IN THE REMOTE OR RURAL AREAS OF A MUCH NEEDED SERVICE, THUS DEFEATING THE VERY OBJECTIVE OF NT TAXIS.

"IT WOULD ALSO AGGRAVATE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEM IN THE NEW TOWN CENTRES AND URBAN AREAS, AND COULD ALSO RESULT IN THE REVIVAL OF ILLEGAL 'PAK PAI' ACTIVITIES, HE SAID.

A

A RECENT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT INDICATED STRONG DEMAND FOR NT TAXI SERVICES IN THE RURAL AREAS WHERE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES WERE LESS ADEQUATE.

THERE WAS A CONTINUING NEED TO MAINTAIN AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF NT TAXI SERVICES, THEREFORE AND IT WAS TIIE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO MAINTAIN THE TWO CATEGORIES OF TAXIS AND KEEP THEM SEPARATE WITHIN WELL-DEFINED GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES, MR LEUNG SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS RESPONSIVE TO CHANGING NEEDS.

"IN RECENT YEARS, THE OPERATING BOUNDARIES OF NT TAXIS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE AND JUSTIFIED, ADJUSTED ΤΟ TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THE OPENING OF NEW ROADS, MAJOR CHANGES IN LAND USE, THE ADEQUACY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES AND OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING TRAVEL DEMAND.

"THIS PRACTICE WILL CONTINUE," HE SAID.

NO STATUTORY CONTROL ON PAYMENT OF DIRECTORS' FEES

THERE IS NO STATUTORY CONTROL OVER THE PAYMENT OF DIRECTORS' FEES FOR EITHER LISTED OR UNLISTED COMPANIES, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID NENDICK, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING

TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHUNG PUI-LAM, MR NENDICK EXPLAINED THAT THE PAYMENT OF DIRECTORS' FEES WAS REGULATED BY A COMPANY'S MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION.

THE ARTICLES USUALLY PROVIDED FOR THE COMPANY TO DETERMINE REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS IN A GENERAL MEETING, HE ADDED.

THE

"MEMBERS OF A COMPANY ARE CONSIDERED IN The best POSITION TO DETERMINE AND APPROVE THE QUANTUM OF DIRECTORS' FEES AS THEIR INTERESTS ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED,

*** MR NENDICK SAID.

/HE NOTED