XN000022-1995-07-25 — Page 15

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"In Hong Kong's circumstances, we see no case for giving incentives to encourage the purchase of more private cars. We therefore propose to introduce legislative amendments in the first half of the 1995/96 Legislative Council session to withdraw this benefit," the spokesman said.

In addition, the Council also noted and agreed that more traffic management schemes should be introduced, for example to give greater priority to buses in the use of road space (i.e. by introducing more bus-only lanes), and to establish stricter control over the loading and unloading of goods vehicles in busy areas during peak hours.

End/Tuesday, July 25, 1995

Hong Kong's terminals have record half year

Hong Kong's container terminals posted a record half year according to unofficial figures.

In the first half of 1995 the port's eight privately operated terminals handled 3.9 million TEUS. This was a 16 per cent increase over the throughput for the first half of 1994. The figures do not include statistics for mid-stream and river trade which help make up the overall port throughput.

However, they do indicate that the growth rate of 16 per cent, shown in official throughput figures for the first quarter, is continuing.

Official figures for the first quarter of 1995 show that the port handled 2.68 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs). This was a 16.2 percent increase over the same period last year.

If the 16 percent increase continues throughout the year Hong Kong should handle more than 12.8 million TEUs in 1995.

The increase once again emphasises the urgent need for new container terminals to meet the ever growing demand on Hong Kong's port facilities.

End/Tuesday, July 25, 1995