XN000022-1993-11-17 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1993

THE NUMBER OF FLIGHT MOVEMENTS BETWEEN 9 PM AND MIDNIGHT

WILL BE INCREASED AS A RESULT OF THE SUSPENSION OF THE "OPPOSITE RUNWAY" MODE.

NOT

ᅡ

"THE REASON FOR DISCONTINUING THE 'OPPOSITE RUNWAY' MODE OF OPERATION AT KAI TAK BETWEEN 9 PM AND MIDNIGHT IS AVIATION SAFETY, MR SIU SAID.

THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT TOOK THE DECISION ON THE ADVICE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL INSPECTORATE THAT THE MODE OF OPERATION POSES A DEFINITE HAZARD TO FLIGHT SAFETY, HE ADDED.

NEW LAW TO DEAL WITH BUS SERVICE DEFICIENCIES

*

THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR MUCH STIFFER FINANCIAL PENALTIES TO ВЕ IMPOSED ON THE BUS COMPANIES SHOULD THEY FAIL TO REMEDY SERVICE DEFICIENCIES, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR HAIDER BARNA, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

F

IN HIS REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG WAI-YIN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR BARMA SAID THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD BEEN CONSULTED AND HE INTENDED TO INTRODUCE THE NEW LAW EARLY NEXT YEAR.

HE

SAID SINCE THE CITYBUS COMMENCED SERVICES ON THE 26 ROUTES ON SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR, A TOTAL OF 258 COMPLAINTS REGARDING ITS SERVICES HAD BEEN LODGED WITH THE TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS: 177 IN SEPTEMBER AND 81 IN OCTOBER.

MR BARMA SAID 159 OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE RELATED TO IRREGULAR OR INADEQUATE SERVICES OR MISSING TRIPS.

ΤΟ

"THIS RELATES TO BUSES NOT KEEPING

TIMETABLES, COMMUTER EXPECTATION OF MORE BUSES AND THE COMPANY'S INABILITY ΤΟ MEET THE SCHEDULED FREQUENCY.

THE REST OF THE COMPLAINTS RELATE ΤΟ INADEQUATE PASSENGER INFORMATION AND FACILITIES, UNSATISFACTORY STAFF ATTITUDE AND PERFORMANCE, UNSATISFACTORY CONDITION OF BUSES AND INAPPROPRIATE ROUTEING AND LOCATION OF BUS STOPS.

HE SAID THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WOULD CONDUCT REGULAR AND SPOT CHECKS AT BUS TERMINI ON THE NUMBER OF TRIPS, ON BUS OCCUPANCY AND FREQUENCY, AND ON VEHICLE TURNOUT AND DEPLOYMENT.

"STAFF FROM THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO BOARD BUSES UNANNOUNCED TO OBSERVE SERVICE SITUATIONS AND PASSENGER REACTION.'

זז

/IN ADDITION,