XN000022-1992-12-16 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1992

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INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL SHOULD BE MORE PROACTIVE

MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL HAVE BROAD AGREEMENT THAT IT SHOULD BECOME MORE PROACTIVE. TAKING ON A STRONG LEADERSHIP ROLE TO HELP CO-ORDINATE THE PROVISION

OF SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MRTH CHAU, AS HE REPLIED TO A QUESTION BY THE HON NGAI SHIU-KIT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

"THE ADMINISTRATION 'IS NOW WRESTLING WITH THE DIFFICULT QUESTION OF HOW BEST TO TAKE THIS MATTER FORWARD, INCLUDING WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A CHANGE IN THE FUNDING IN THIS IMPORTANT AREA," MR CHAU SAID.

THE COUNCIL WAS ESTABLISHED EARLY THIS YEAR AS GOVERNMENT'S MAIN CHANNEL OF ADVICE ON THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY AND 'TECHNOLOGY IN HONG KONG.

IT HAS

REVIEW OF ITS

DEVOTED PART OF ITS ENERGIES DURING ITS FIRST YEAR TO A ROLE.

HE SAID THOUGH THE COUNCIL'S ADVICE WAS NOT NORMALLY PUBLISHED, HE WOULD KEEP THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL INFORMED OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN DUE COURSE.

OPERATION OF NON-FRANCHISED BUS SERVICE

A PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCE IS REQUIRED FOR THE OPERATION OF A NON-FRANCHISED BUS SERVICE UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, IN REPLY ΤΟ A QUESTION BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN CONSIDERING AN APPLICATION FOR SUCH A SERVICE, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WAS REQUIRED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT NOT ONLY THE NEED FOR THE PROPOSED SERVICE, BUT ALSO SUCH OPERATING DETAILS AS STOPPING POINTS, ROUTEING, FARES AND FREQUENCY WHICH WERE SPECIFIED IN THE LICENSING CONDITIONS OF THE LICENCE ISSUED.

THESE OPERATING DETAILS WERE NORMALLY AGREED BETWEEN THE OPERATOR AND THE RESIDENTS CONCERNED AND INCLUDED IN THEIR JOINT APPLICATION FOR THE SERVIER.

"THUS THE FARES, ROUTEING AND OTHER OPERATING DETAILS IN THE LICENSING CONDITIONS REFLECT THE AGREEMENT BY THE THEMSELVES OR THEIR AUTHORISED MANAGEMENT AGENT, HE SAID.

INCLUDED RESIDENTS

/MR LEUNG