XN000022-1993-05-29 — Page 3

SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1993

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TRANSIT SERVICE AREA TO BE RESCINDED

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THE EXISTING BOARDING AND ALIGHTING RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON FRANCHISED BUSES WITHIN THE NORTH-WEST TRANSIT SERVICE AREA (TSA) WILL BE RESCINDED WITH EFFECT FROM JUNE 1 (TUESDAY).

AS A RESULT, THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC CAN USE BUSES OF THE KOWLOON BUS COMPANY FOR MAKING TRIPS WITHIN TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG

MOTOR DISTRICTS.

AT THE SAME TIME, KMB WILL INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL SECTION FARES ON THE TUEN MUN/YUEN LONG BOUND BUSES WITHIN THE TSA.

THE SECTION FARES ON ORDINARY BUSES RANGE FROM $2.50 TO $3.60, WHICH ARE 20 TO 30 PER CENT BELOW THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT FARE. THE SECTION FARES ON AIR-CONDITIONED BUSES WHICH RANGE FROM $3.00 TO $4.30 ARE COMPARABLE TO THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT FARES.

THE TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARDS HAD BEEN CONSULTED AND THEY WELCOMED THE DECISION TO LIFT THE BOARDING AND ALIGHTING RESTRICTIONS ON BUSES.

THIS WILL PROVIDE MORE CHOICES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND COMPETITIVE FARES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS THERE.

THE

(SATURDAY)

EARLY PLAN FOR WORK IN TYPHOON AND RAINSTORM URGED

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ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR ALFRED CHAN, TODAY ADVISED EMPLOYERS TO REACH PRIOR AGREEMENTS WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES ON WORK ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTINGENCY MEASURES IN TIMES OF TYPHOONS AND RAINSTORMS.

AND

"EARLY AGREEMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGS DISPUTES BECAUSE IT WOULD BE IMPRACTICABLE TO INTRODUCE STATUTORY REGULATIONS ON WORK ARRANGEMENTS RELATING TO TYPHOON AND RAINSTORM DUE TO THE DIVERSITY IN NATURE AND REQUIREMENTS OF JOBS

IN VARIOUS TRADES AND INDUSTRIES, MR CHAN SAID.

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HE SAID CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH EMPLOYEES WERE REQUIRED TO REPORT FOR DUTY OR TO STOP WORK SHOULD BE CLEARLY STATED IN THE AGREEMENTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IT SHOULD SPECIFY THE TYPHOON SIGNAL NUMBER OR THE COLOUR CODE OF RAINSTORM WARNING UNDER WHICH EMPLOYEES ARK то STOP WORK OR NOT REQUIRED TO REPORT FOR DUTY, WAYS OF CALCULATING WAGES AND CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH EMPLOYEES SHOULD RETURN TO WORK, HE ADDED.

MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT DUE CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN ΤΟ EMPLOYEES' SAFETY IN THE WORK PLACE AS WELL AS THEIR JOURNEY ΤΟ AND FROM WORK.

"NORMALLY, WHEN TYPHOON SIGNAL NUMBER & IS HOISTED OR PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES ARE TO BE SUSPENDED SHORTLY, EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE NOT REPORTED FOR DUTY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY AT HOME.

/"FOR THOSE