XN000022-1994-11-14 — Page 6

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1994

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DESCRIBING AS AN UPHILL TASK EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THE POTENTIALLY ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE IN HONG KONG IN THE PAST 15 YEARS, DR REED SAID: "MUCH HAS BEEN ACHIEVED THROUGH DETAILED INTERVENTION IN THE PLANNING PROCESS AT ALL LEVELS FROM DISTRICT PLANS TO STRATEGIC STUDIES AND BY THE NON-STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS."

WHILE THE RAPID GROWTH IN HONG KONG'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) FLOWED THROUGH AS EQUALLY RAPID GROWTH IN PRESSURE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, DR REED SAID: "MORE RECENTLY, HONG KONG IS STARTING то SEE SOME SIGNS THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED ARE LEADING TO POSITIVE GAINS AND NOT SIMPLY HEADING OFF THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE NEXT INCREMENT OF GROWTH IN GDP.

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NOTING THAT THERE HAD BEEN STRONG CONCERN ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF PRESENT DEVELOPMENT TRENDS IN HONG KONG, DR REED SAID: "IT IS EXPECTED THAT THESE CONCERNS RELATING TO SUSTAINABILITY, AS WELL AS HONG KONG'S RESPONSE TO THE GUIDELINES SET OUT IN 21, WILL FEATURE MUCH MORE PROMINENTLY IN HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENTAL DEBATE AND PROGRAMMES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS CENTURY,"

AGENDA

TEST FOR DRIVING PRIVATE LIGHT BUS

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE DIRECT ENDORSEMENT PRESENTLY GIVEN TO PRIVATE CAR DRIVERS WITH THREE YEARS' DRIVING EXPERIENCE TO DRIVE A PRIVATE LIGHT BUS WILL STOP WITH EFFECT FROM NEXT MONTH.

THIS ARRANGEMENT WAS INTRODUCED IN THE 1970S AND WAS MEANT TO BE AN EXPEDIENCE AS MOST OF THE PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES IN USE THEN WERE SMALLER THAN A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS, AND THAT THEY NORMALLY CARRIED PASSENGERS FROM POINT-TO-POINT.

REGULARLY.

THIS ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN REVIEWED

MOST PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES IN USE TODAY ARE COMPARABLE IN CONSTRUCTION AND SIZE TO A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS. THERE ARE ALSO NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SUPPLY OF LIGHT BUS DRIVING INSTRUCTORS.

"DRIVERS OF PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES SHOULD THEREFORE UNDERGO A DRIVING TEST IN THE SAME MANNER AS THAT FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUS DRIVERS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.

THE NEW

ONWARDS.

ARRANGEMENT

WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM DECEMBER 1, 1994

APPLICANTS FOR A DRIVING TEST TO DRIVE A LIGHT BUS MUST BE AGED 21 OR ABOVE; HAVE HELD A FULL DRIVING LICENCE FOR A PRIVATE CAR OR A LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE FOR THREE YEARS OR MORE; AND HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF THE OFFENCES OF RECKLESS DRIVING AND DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRINK OR DRUG DURING THE FIVE YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE APPLICATION.

THE APPLICATION FEE IS $510.

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