XN000022-1993-06-02 — Page 37

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1993

"VIEWS ARE SOUGHT FROM THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT ON THE QUESTION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

"CONSIDERATION IS ALSO GIVEN TO WHETHER THE PROPOSED EMPLOYMENT WILL RESULT IN THE OFFICER HAVING AN UNDESIRABLE PUBLIC PROFILE, SHE ADDED.

CONDITIONS, SUCH AS A SANITISATION PERIOD OR SANCTIONS AGAINST DEALING WITH SPECIFIC COMPANIES MAY BE IMPOSED AS NECESSARY.

THE PROVISIONS OF THE OFFICIAL SECRETS ACTS CONTINUE TO APPLY TO AN OFFICER AFTER HIS RETIREMENT, MRS CHAN ADDED.

TRANSPORT CONCESSIONS FOR DISABLED AND ELDERLY

THE TRANSPORT CONCESSIONS FOR DISABLED DRIVERS ANNOUNCED IN THE 1993 BUDGET WERE IMPLEMENTED ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR JOHN TELFORD, SAID.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ERIC LI LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR TELFORD SAID THIS EXTENDING CONCESSIONS ALREADY GRANTED TO DISABLED OWNERS OF CARS TO SUCH OWNERS OF MOTORCYCLES AND MOTOR TRICYCLES.

IN THE INVOLVED PRIVATE

THEY ARE EXEMPTED FROM FIRST REGISTRATION TAX, FEES ON LEARNER DRIVING LICENCE, DRIVING TEST FORMS, ANNUAL VEHICLE LICENCE, TRANSFER OF VEHICLE OWNERSHIP, CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL PASSAGE TAX, PARKING METER FEES AND, SUBJECT TO A PRE-DETERMINED LIMIT, DUTY ON HYDROCARBON OIL.

"FROM THE SAME DATE, DISABLED DRIVERS OF PRIVATE CARS, MOTORCYCLES AND MOTOR TRICYCLES WERE EXEMPTED FROM THE NEED TO PAY TOLLS WHEN USING GOVERNMENT TUNNELS, HE SAID.

TT

MR TELFORD SAID THE EXEMPTIONS FROM GOVERNMENT LICENCE FEES AND RENTAL PAYMENTS ANNOUNCED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH WERE TO ENABLE FRANCHISED PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS TO INTRODUCE CONCESSIONARY FARE SCHEMES FOR THE ELDERLY OR, WHERE SUCH SCHEMES ALREADY EXISTED, TO IMPROVE ON THEM.

THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY HAS INTRODUCED A FULL-DAY HALF- FARE SCHEME ON ALL ITS ROUTES EXCEPT THOSE TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT FOR PERSONS AGED 65 AND OVER SINCE APRIL 5, 1993.

THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY WOULD INTRODUCE AN OFF-PEAK HALF FARE SCHEME FOR THE ELDERLY STARTING JUNE 6, 1993.

IT WOULD COVER ALL ROUTES EXCEPT THOSE USING THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNELS AND ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, AND AIR-CONDITIONED SERVICES.

DISCUSSIONS WERE BEING HELD WITH OTHER FRANCHISED PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS, INCLUDING THE STAR FERRY COMPANY, THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY, THE NEW LANTAO BUS COMPANY AND THE CITYBUS COMPANY, ON THE MANNER IN WHICH THEIR EXISTING CONCESSIONARY FARE SCHEMES AND SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY CAN BE UPGRADED WITH GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

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