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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1992

LOOKING AHEAD, MR CHAU SAID US-CHINA RELATIONS WOULD BE A

CONTINUING CONCERN.

"A BILL FOR CONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF CHINA'S MFN STATUS IS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION IN THE US CONGRESS AND THE SECTION 301 CONSULTATIONS ON MARKET ACCESS BETWEEN US AND CHINA ARE ONGOING," HE

SAID.

"ALL THESE MATTERS WILL COME TO A HEAD WITHIN THIS YEAR AND WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THEM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.

"IN SOME CASES A CONCERTED APPROACH BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND OUR TRADE AND INDUSTRY IS NECESSARY, HE SAID.

F

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TAC CONSIDERS CMB FRANCHISE EXTENSION

THE TRANSPORT

ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) CONSIDERED THE CMB'S APPLICATION FOR EXTENDING ITS YEARS TO AUGUST 31, 1995.

TODAY (TUESDAY) FRANCHISE BY TWO

A CONSULTATION EXERCISE ON THE RENEWAL OF THE WAS LAUNCHED FOLLOWING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. DEBATE SERVICES FOR HONG KONG ISLAND ON JANUARY 22.

CMB'S FRANCHISE ON PUBLIC BUS

THE FOUR DISTRICT BOARDS ON HONG KONG JSLAND HAD SUBMITTED THEIR VIEWS.

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OF

UP TO TODAY (FEBRUARY 25), THE ADMINISTRATION HAD RECEIVED WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THE FULL RANGE PUBLIC VIEWS EXPRESSED. TOGETHER WITH COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS RECEIVED THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA, HAD BEEN PRESENTED TO THE TAC.

VIEWS EXPRESSED INCLUDED THE CMB'S SERVICE STANDARDS AND ITS COMMITMENT TOWARDS FURTHER SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS; WHETHER MORE BUS ROUTES SHOULD ВЕ TENDERED OUT; THE NEFD TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS; WHETHER THE PROFIT CONTROL SCHEME SHOULD BE CHANGED OR CANCELLED; AND WHETHER THE FRANCHISEE SHOULD BE GIVEN SOME ASSURANCE IN THE RATE OF RETURN.

THE TAC MEMBERS HAD ALSO CONSIDERED THE WRITTEN SUBMISSION PRESENTED BY THE CMB ΤΟ THE COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 13 AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S ASSESSMENTS.

IN ITS WRITTEN SUBMISSION, THE CMB OUTLINED PROPOSALS то UPGRADE ITS BUS SERVICES, INCLUDING BETTER CUSTOMER RELATIONS, MORE MODERN PASSENGER FACILITIES, IMPROVED STAFF TRAINING AND THE PURCHASE OF UP TO 60 NEW BUSES PER YEAR.

AS THE TAC'S ADVICE ON THE FUTURE OF THE CMB'S FRANCHISE FORM THE BASIS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S IMPENDING NEGOTIATIONS WITH CMB, ITS CONTENTS CANNOT THEREFORE BE RELEASED.

WILL

THE

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