XN000022-1992-11-25 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1992

EXTENSION OF WEEKEND FARES TO SATURDAY MORNINGS

THE WEEKDAY FARES FOR OUTLYING ISLAND FERRY SERVICES WOULD HAVE GONE UP BY ANOTHER 50 CENTS PER TRIP HAD THERE NOT BEEN THE EXTENSION OF WEEKEND FARES TO SATURDAY MORNINGS.

THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING A DEBATE ON A RESOLUTION THAT SEEKS TO REPEAL THE EXTENSION OF HONGKONG YAUMATEI FERRY'S (HYF) WEEKEND FARES TO SATURDAY MORNINGS.

MR LEUNG SAID THE IMPACT OF WEEKEND FARES ON ISLANDS RESIDENTS MINIMAL AS THE HIGHER FARES WERE INTENDED PRIMARILY FOR HOLIDAY-

WAS MAKERS.

"REGULAR COMMUTERS, INCLUDING URBAN DWELLERS WHO WORK ON THE OUTLYING ISLANDS, ARE PROTECTED BY THE USE OF MONTHLY TICKETS.

'ISLANDS RESIDENTS WHO TRAVEL LESS FREQUENTLY CAN AVOID THE HIGHER WEEKEND FARES BY USING RETURN TICKETS AVAILABLE ΤΟ THEM AT WEEKDAY FARES."

MR LEUNG SAID IF THE WEEKEND FARES ON SATURDAY MORNINGS WERE REMOVED, IT WAS ESTIMATED HYF WOULD SUFFER A REVENUE LOSS OF ABOUT $4 MILLION A YEAR.

"OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL, IT WOULD FURTHER REDUCE HYF'S ALREADY MODEST RATE OF RETURN AND ACT AS A DISINCENTIVE FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENTS.

AND SAID.

"WITHOUT FURTHER INVESTMENTS, SERVICE STANDARDS COULD SUFFER NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS MAY NOT BE DELIVERED IN TIME, MR LEUNG

THE RESOLUTION WAS DEFEATED IN A VOTING BY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

0

WAYS TO IMPROVE LABOUR TRIBUNAL EFFICIENCY UNDER STUDY

AN

THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL CHANNEL OF QUASI-JUDICIAL ARBITRATION AT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WITH THE POWER TO MAKE LEGALLY BINDING AWARDS IN ORDER ΤΟ IMPROVE THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, WHEN SPEAKING ON A MOTION MOVED BY THE HON LAU CHIN-SHEK TO AMEND THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL (FEES) (AMENDMENT) RULES 1992 IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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