XN000022-1994-06-21 — Page 6

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1994

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CONCURRENT WITH THE FARE RISE, CMB WOULD EXTEND ITS EXISTING ELDERLY CONCESSIONARY FARE SCHEME TO ALL ROUTES ON HONG KONG ISLAND ON A FULL-DAY BASIS. HOWEVER, THE CONCESSIONARY FARE WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE TO CROSS HARBOUR ROUTES.

GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS THAT INCREASE IN CMB'S OPERATING COSTS IS MAINLY DUE TO INCREASE IN STAFF COSTS WHICH CONSTITUTES OVER

60 PER CENT OF TOTAL OPERATING COSTS.

BUT IN ASSESSING CMB'S OPERATING COSTS, THE GOVERNMENT EXCLUDED CMB'S PROPOSED FURTHER PROVISION TO ITS CONTINGENCY FUND COVER THIRD PARTY INSURANCE CLAIMS.

THE

REASONABLE SERVICE.

HAS

то

A

MODEST FARE INCREASE APPROVED WILL ALLOW CMB TO ACHIEVE RETURN FOR IT TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ITS

TAC BRIEFED ON FREIGHT TRANSPORT STUDIES

THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) TODAY (TUESDAY) DISCUSSED THE REPORT OF THE FREIGHT TRANSPORT STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE FREIGHT TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

MEMBERS NOTED THAT THE REPORT CONTAINED A TOTAL OF 28 RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THREE STAGES TO TACKLE THE SIX MAJOR PROBLEM AREAS RELATING TO PARKING OF GOODS VEHICLES, STORAGE CONTAINERS, AND THE CONGESTION AT THE BORDER AND IN THE CONTAINER PORT AREAS.

OF

THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSULT THE INDUSTRY AND OTHER CONCERNED PARTIES BETWEEN JULY AND NOVEMBER ON THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY BEFORE FINALISING THE FREIGHT TRANSPORT STRATEGY.

MEMBERS DECIDED THAT A WORKING GROUP SHOULD BE SET UP TO STUDY THE REPORT IN DEPTH BEFORE SUBMITTING ITS VIEWS FOR TAC'S CONSIDERATION.

AFTER THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION PERIOD, THE GOVERNMENT WILL FORMULATE ITS POLICIES AND STRATEGIES, TAKING DUE ADVICE FROM TAC, IN FREIGHT TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS OR So.

DURING TODAY'S MEETING, THE TAC WAS ALSO BRIEFED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE RESULT OF ITS ASSESSMENT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TWO RAILWAY CORPORATIONS AND THE FOUR FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES

IN 1993.

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MEMBERS NOTED THAT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION MAINTAINED AN EFFICIENT RAILWAY SERVICE IN 1993, WITH THE NUMBER PASSENGERS PER DAY INCREASED TO 2.13 MILLION FROM 2.06 MILLION 1992, AND THE MORNING PEAK FREQUENCY OF THE TSUEN WAN LINE IMPROVED TO 116 SECONDS FROM 120 SECONDS IN 1992.

IN

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