XN000022-1995-07-27 — Page 49

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Committee stage amendments

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Mr President, I shall be proposing a number of amendments to the Bill at the Committee Stage. Most of these amendments have been made in response to views expressed by Members during meetings of the Bills Committee.

Conclusion

With these remarks I commend the Bill to Honourable Members.

End/Thursday, July 27, 1995

Public Bus Services (Amendment) Bill 1995: Clause 1A

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in moving new Clause 1A at the Committee Stage of the Public Bus Services (Amendment) Bill 1995 in the Legislative Council today (Thursday):

Mr Chairman,

I move that the new clause 1A as set out in the paper circulated to Members be read the second time.

During discussion in the Bills Committee, Hon Members repeatedly stressed that future franchise negotiations should be concluded in good time and argued, in particular, that the Administration should ensure that, if the existing franchise is not renewed, there should be sufficient lead time to award a new franchise by tender. Accordingly, I propose that a new clause 1A be added to the Bill to require a franchisee who seeks a franchise extension, to give at least 15-month's notice to the Government, instead of the current requirement of one year. This new clause also requires the Secretary for Transport to recommend to the Executive Council whether a franchise should be extended, at least nine months before its expiry. If franchise negotiations are not completed by then, the Secretary for Transport will have to seek permission from the Executive Council to carry on the negotiations.

This approach has been agreed by Honourable Members. Mr Chairman, I beg

to move.

Mr Chairman, I move that new clause 1A be added to the Bill.

End/Thursday, July 27, 1995