XN000022-1994-05-18 — Page 34

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1994

PUBLISHED

IF APPROVED, THE AMENDMENT TO THE DRAFT OZP WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE.

WAS

NOT

ON

AWARE OF ANY

MR EASON SAID THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD HAD BEEN CONSULTED

AND THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL THE REZONING OBJECTION TO IT HAVING BEEN VOICED SO FAR.

OZP

PUBLICATION OF THE REVISED DRAFT

PROVIDE WOULD OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY SUCH OBJECTIONS TO BE LODGED, HE SAID.

THE

0

-

WITNESSES WILLING TO TESTIFY AGAINST TAXI MALPRACTICES

COMPLAINTS

AGAINST

WHICH ACTIONED IF THE POLICE

OF TAXI MALPRACTICES, THE MAJORITY RELATE ΤΟ OVERCHARGING OR REFUSAL OF HIRE, CAN ONLY BE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE PREPARED TO GIVE STATEMENTS TO AND, IF REQUIRED, TESTIFY AS WITNESSES IN COURT.

THIS WAS STATED

BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT,

MR HAIDER

BARMA,

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEE WING-TAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE SAID A COMPLAINANT WOULD RECEIVE A FORMAL SUMMONS SECTION 21 OF THE MAGISTRATES ORDINANCE IF HE WAS REQUIRED TO IN COURT, AND FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE SUMMONS MIGHT RESULT FINE NOT EXCEEDING $5,000.

HOWEVER,

HE

PARTICULAR SAID THIS HAD NOT BEEN A EVIDENCED BY THE NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL CONVICTIONS.

UNDER TESTIFY IN A

PROBLEM

AS

IN 1993, AND

OF THE 300 TAXI OFFENCE CASES PROCEEDED BY SUMMONS 78.2 PER CENT WERE CONVICTED. THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR 1992 1991 ARE 212 AND 62.5 PER CENT AND 164 AND 86 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.

ON INCIDENTS DURING WHICH TAXI DRIVERS HAD TO BE AWAY FROM WORK

[T

THE WAS FOR BUT THE WITNESSES DID NOT SHOW UP, MR BARMA SAID MAGISTRATE TO DECIDE WHETHER A TAXI DRIVER SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FINANCIAL LOSS.

FOR

"UNDER

SECTION

69

OF

THE

MAGISTRATES

ORDINANCE,

IF THE HAVE BEEN

MAGISTRATE IS SATISFIED THAT THE PROCEEDINGS OUGHT NOT TO INSTITUTED OR PURSUED AGAINST THE DEFENDANT, HE MAY ORDER THE AWARD OF COSTS, NOT EXCEEDING $5,000," HE SAID.

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