XN000022-1994-01-06 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1994

PARKING METERS MANAGEMENT CONTRACT AWARDED

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) AWARDED THE CONTRACT FOR THE MANAGEMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL PARKING METERS IN HONG KONG TO SERCO GUARDIAN (FM) LIMITED.

THE THREE-YEAR CONTRACT WILL START FROM MARCH 20 THIS YEAR.

UNDER THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT, THE CONTRACTOR WILL TAKE OVER THE COLLECTION, COUNTING AND BANKING OF METER REVENUE.

AND

IT WILL HAVE ΤΟ DEAL WITH PUBLIC TELEPHONE REPORTS ABOUT DEFECTIVE METERS, MAINTAIN AND CLEANSE ALL PARKING METERS, MAINTAIN METER POSTS, PARKING SIGNS AND ROAD MARKINGS ASSOCIATED METERED PARKING SPACES.

WITH

THE GOVERNMENT WILL HOWEVER RETAIN CONTROL OVER THE LEVEL OF PARKING CHARGES, TYPES OF METERS TO BE USED, AND DESIGNATION AND SUSPENSION OF METERED PARKING SPACES.

THE POLICE WILL CONTINUE ΤΟ LOOK AFTER PARKING OFFENCES.

THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CONTRACTOR SPECIAL TEAM IN THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.

ENFORCEMENT

AGAINST

WILL BE MONITORED BY

A

MEANWHILE, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN HELPING THE STAFF AFFECTED BY THE CONTRACTING OUT EXERCISE TO SEEK ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT. OUT OF THE 118 STAFF INVOLVED, 38 HAVE OPTED TO RETIRE. SEVENTY HAVE SO FAR BEEN OFFERED OTHER JOBS WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

0

—

PENALTY PROVISIONS FOR BUS SERVICE DEFICIENCIES STRENGTHENED

THE

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE INTRODUCTION INTO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PROPOSALS TO STRENGTHEN THE FINANCIAL PENALTY PROVISIONS IN THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICE ORDINANCE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS WERE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ONGOING EXERCISE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF FRANCHISED BUS SERVICES.

THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 WILL BR INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JANUARY 26.

THE BILL, WILL ENABLE THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO IMPOSE FINANCIAL PENALTIES ON A FRANCHISED BUS OPERATOR BASED ON THE NUMBER WHERE SERVICE DEFICIENCIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

OF ROUTES

/THIS CONTRASTS