XN000022-1992-07-07 — Page 8

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TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1992

4.9 PER CENT WOULD PAY 90 CENTS TO $1 MORE;

* 20. 3 PER CENT, MAINLY USERS OF THE NEW TOWN SERVICES AND WEEKDAYS DELUXE CLASS TRAVELLERS TO THE OUTLYING ISLANDS, WOULD PAY $1.3 TO $2 MORE;

* 3.8 PER CENT, MAINLY URBAN DWELLERS TRAVELLING TO THE OUTLYING ISLANDS AT WEEKENDS FOR RECREATION, WOULD PAY $2.5 TO $5 MORE; AND

* 4.9 PER CENT WOULD ENJOY A FARE REDUCTION OF $1.2 TO $3 PER TRIP UNDER A NEW HALF-FARE CONCESSIONARY SCHEME FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AGED 65 OR ABOVE WHO TRAVEL DURING OFF-PEAK HOURS ON WEEKDAYS.

TO ATTRACT SOME VEHICLES AWAY FROM THE CONGESTED CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, FARES FOR VEHICULAR SERVICES WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

IN ADDITION, HYP WILL TRY OUT A $0.5 DISCOUNT FOR A THREE MONTHS.

DETAILS OF THE NEW FARES WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY

SEPARATELY.

PERIOD OF

THE HYF

OUTLYING

WELL BELOW

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE AVERAGE INCREASE FOR ISLANDS SERVICES ON WEEKDAYS, BEING 10.6 PER CENT, WAS INFLATION.

IT HAS BEEN PITCHED CONSCIOUSLY AT SUCH A LEVEL TO MINIMISE THE IMPACT ON ISLANDS RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT.

SERVICES

"THERE IS NO QUESTION OF INNER HARBOUR AND NEW TOWN BEING SUBSIDISED BY RESIDENTS OF OUTLYING ISLANDS. THE SUBSIDY MAINLY FROM URBAN DWELLERS WHO TRAVEL AT WEEKENDS TO OUTLYING FOR RECREATION.

COMES

ISLANDS

CHARGES

SATURDAYS,

"ISLANDS RESIDENTS WISHING TO AVOID THE HIGHER WEEKEND MAY USE DAY RETURN TICKETS AVAILABLE (AT WEEKDAY FARES) ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, HE ADDED.

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COSTS WERE

THE SPOKESMAN SAID HYF HAD TAKEN CONSCIOUS STEPS TO KEEP DOWN AND TO BROADEN ITS REVENUE BASE. SIX LOSS-INCURRING ROUTES CURTAILED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS. THERE HAD BEEN MORE EXTENSIVE ADVERTISING ON THE HULLS OF VESSELS AND PIER TOPS.

"SOME VESSELS RELEASED FROM THE INNER HARBOUR SERVICES REDEVELOPED TO INCREASE THE SERVICES FOR TUEN MUN AND TSUEN WAN JUNE THIS YEAR.

ARE

SINCE

AIR-

"THIS INCLUDES CONVERTING A SECOND VESSEL INTO AN CONDITIONED DOUBLE-DECK FERRY. FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS THIS YEAR COMPRISE BETTER FREQUENCY ON THE CHEUNG CHAU CENTRAL SERVICE AND SPLITTING THE MUI WO/PENG CHAU - CENTRAL SERVICE INTO TWO SERVICES, EACH SHORTER JOURNEY TIMES,

WITH HE SAID.

"

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