XN000022-1993-01-13 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1993

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AIR-CONDITIONED BUS FARES EXPLAINED

FRANCHISED

FARE SCALES FOR AIR-CONDITIONED BUS SERVICES OPERATED BY THE BUS COMPANIES ARE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AT LEVELS A IMED TO ACHIEVE SELF-FINANCING, WITHOUT THE NEED FOR CROSS SUBSIDISATION FROM THE ORDINARY BUS SERVICES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MRMICHAEL LEUNG, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO THE HON ALBERT CHAN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WITHIN THE APPROVED FARE SCALE, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT DETERMINES THE ACTUAL FARE POINT CHARGED FOR A PARTICULAR ROUTE, HE SAID.

IN THE DETERMINATION PROCESS, THE COMMISSIONER WOULD TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF THE TYPE OF AIR-CONDITIONED BUSES USED, PASSENGER EXPECTATIONS AND AFFORDABILITY, AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVE AIR-CONDITIONED PUBLIC TRANSPORT MODES, FORECAST PATRONAGE AND REVENUE, FARES CHARGED ON ORDINARY BUS SERVICE IN THE SAME ROUTE OR COMPARABLE ROUTES AND OTHER RELEVANT TRANSPORT CONSIDERATIONS.

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'ON THE AVERAGE, THE ACTUAL FARE CHARGED IS 40 PER CENT BELOW THE PERMITTED CEILING, HE SAID.

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MR LEUNG SAID FARES FOR AIR-CONDITIONED BUS SERVICES WERE REVIEWED REGULARLY TO ENSURE THEIR REASONABLENESS, HAVING FULL REGARD TO PASSENGER FEEDBACK INCLUDING COMPLAINTS AGAINST HIGH FARES ON CERTAIN ROUTES.

"THE MOST RECENT REVIEW COMPLETED IN MID-1992 CONFIRMS THAT THE PRACTICE OF FLEXIBLE PRICING WITHIN THE APPROVED FARE SCALES SHOULD BE MAINTAINED," HE SAID, ADDING THAT THE CONCLUSIONS WERE SUPPORTED BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

PROVISION OF LOCKABLE DESKS IN SCHOOLS NOT PRACTICAL

THE PROVISION OF LOCKABLE DESKS AND BOOKCASES IN SCHOOLS IS NOT CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE SINCE PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS ARE REQUIRED то REFER TO THEIR TEXTBOOKS WHEN WORKING AT HOME.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN SETTING ASIDE SUCH PRIVATE STORAGE SPACE IN SCHOOLS FOR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AS THE MAJORITY OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CLASSES ARE RUN IN TWO SESSIONS AND THE SCHOOLS ARE MADE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER USES OUTSIDE NORMAL SCHOOLING HOURS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO THE HON ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

/MR CHAN