XN000022-1994-06-22 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1994

HAD

"THE COST OF THE 1993 PAY ADJUSTMENT AND PENSION INCREASE BEEN ANTICIPATED IN THE 1993/94 ESTIMATES UNDER THE 'ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS' SUBHEAD.

"SAVINGS WERE ALSO MADE IN OTHER SUBHEADS THROUGH CONTINUED TIGHT CONTROL OVER PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.

SUM

"BECAUSE OF THESE SAVINGS AND THE PROVISION MADE FOR ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS, TOTAL EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR IS WITHIN THE APPROPRIATED IN THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE 1993," HE SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

BILL TO TACKLE SPECULATION ON TAXI LICENCE INTRODUCED TO LEGCO

A BILL SEEKING TO TACKLE SPECULATION IN TAXI LICENCES WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1994 SEEKS TO INTRODUCE RESTRICTION ON THE TRANSFERABILITY OF NEW TAXI LICENCES.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR HAIDER BARMA, SAID THE EXCEEDINGLY HIGH PREMIUMS PAID FOR TAXI LICENCES WAS ONE PARTICULAR PROBLEM AREA IDENTIFIED IN THE TAXI POLICY REVIEW WHICH WAS CONDUCTED BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY, COMMITTEE (TAC) AND COMPLETED IN MARCH 1994.

HE NOTED THAT TAXI LICENCES HAD BEEN ISSUED THROUGH PUBLIC TENDER SINCE 1964 AND WERE FREELY TRANSFERABLE UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION, WITH HOLDERS HAVING A PERPETUAL OPERATING RIGHT.

OF

MR BARMA SAID THESE FACTORS, COUPLED WITH THE LIMITED ISSUE NEW TAXI LICENCES, HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE SHARP RISE AND SPECULATION IN TAXI LICENCES IN RECENT YEARS.

INTER

THE

"TO TACKLE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, THE TAC RECOMMENDED, ALIA, THAT THERE SHOULD BE A 12-MONTH RESTRICTION ON THE TRANSFERABILITY OF NEW TAXI LICENCES AND A REQUIREMENT THAT BOTH TRANSFEROR AND TRANSFEREE OF THE LICENCE MUST REGISTER THE TRANSACTION IN PERSON, HE SAID.

**

MR BARMA SAID THE BILL WOULD EMPOWER THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO PROHIBIT THE TRANSFER OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE TAXI FOR AN INITIAL PERIOD.

"THE EXACT PERIOD HAS NOT BEEN SPECIFIED IN THE BILL DELIBERATELY SINCE, IN FUTURE, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO VARY THIS PERIOD TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO THE MARKET SITUATION.

"TO ENSURE THAT THE TRADE AND ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE MADE AWARE OF THIS RESTRICTION, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WILL SPECIFY THE 'PERIOD' IN THE TENDER DOCUMENTS.

'SUCH A RESTRICTION WILL ALSO BE ENDORSED REGISTRATION DOCUMENT FOR VEHICLE LICENSED AS TAXIS,

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

IN THE VEHICLE HE SAID.

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